Ishaq Dar Calls Turkish FM Hakan Fidan to Discuss Escalating Middle East Crisis and Regional Stability

Pakistan and Turkiye have jointly called for an early diplomatic understanding among all involved parties as a path toward durable peace and stability in the Middle East, amid a rapidly worsening security environment in the region.

The two countries reached this position during a telephone call between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The conversation focused on the fast-evolving regional situation, with both leaders stressing the critical role of dialogue and restraint in preventing further escalation.

Both ministers agreed to maintain close and continuous coordination on regional and international matters of shared concern. They also committed to sustaining high-level diplomatic engagements to deepen the wide-ranging Pakistan-Turkiye strategic partnership.

The call came against the backdrop of renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran. American forces launched fresh strikes against Iranian targets on Thursday, prompting Tehran to respond in kind — marking the second consecutive day of retaliatory strikes. Iran’s counterattacks reportedly targeted US military installations across the Gulf, causing oil prices to climb once more.

US President Donald Trump, who had previously signaled that a negotiated end to the three-month conflict was within reach, sharpened his tone, saying Iran keeps “playing us for suckers” and would “have to pay the price.” Shortly after, US Central Command announced that American forces had begun “additional self-defense strikes” at 5:15 pm Washington time on Wednesday, characterising them as a response to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

Iranian state media reported a series of explosions in southern areas near the Strait of Hormuz, including in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Minab. Sources on the ground also confirmed hits by “enemy projectiles” in Kargan and Sirik. CENTCOM later confirmed it had “completed” its strikes, which it said targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication networks, and air defence installations. The command added that its forces had fired precision munitions against Iranian assets that posed a direct threat to US personnel and vessels navigating international commercial shipping lanes.

Against this volatile backdrop, the Pakistan-Turkiye diplomatic exchange signals a coordinated effort by regional and allied powers to keep diplomatic channels open and urge all parties back to the negotiating table.