Pakistan recently hosted a quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan in Islamabad to address escalating tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
According to officials, “Islamabad has emerged as a key facilitator between Iran and the United States as their war drags on, serving as an intermediary for messages between the two sides.” The meeting aims to create a diplomatic channel to de-escalate the conflict, which began on February 28 and has affected the broader region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Islamabad for the official visit, followed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Deputy Prime Minister Dar confirmed that indirect talks between the United States and Iran are ongoing, with Pakistan relaying messages and Turkiye and Egypt supporting the effort.
The discussions also included direct contacts between Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials. While Pakistan delivered a US proposal to Iran, Tehran rejected it, emphasizing its own conditions for ending the war, including a halt to aggression, reparations, and recognition of control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian twice in five days, condemning Israeli attacks and expressing Pakistan’s solidarity with the Iranian people. The meetings underscore Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and regional stability.
On the sidelines, DPM Dar held separate meetings with the Egyptian and Turkish foreign ministers, reaffirming bilateral ties and shared commitment to peace in the Middle East. He also stressed the need for dialogue as the only viable path toward lasting regional stability.
