ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye in an effort to de-escalate tensions in the region, the foreign office said this week, with foreign affairs analysts describing the meeting as a “crucial” one as Islamabad steps up diplomatic outreach to broker regional peace.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan arrived in Islamabad on Saturday ahead of talks in Pakistan aimed at calming regional tensions as the US and Israel’s war on Iran, which began last month, refuses to let up. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan touched down on Sunday afternoon, according to media reports.
Iran has responded with strikes against Israel and US interests in the region, as well as targeting energy and civilian infrastructure in Gulf nations.
Islamabad has served as a go-between for messages passed between Iranian and US officials as the conflict drags on, severely disrupting oil and cargo supplies through the Strait of Hormuz as well as regional air corridors.
The foreign ministers of Turkiye and Egypt, Hakan Fidan and Dr. Badr Abdelatty, respectively, arrived at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday morning, with the Saudi foreign minister expected to arrive later in the day, as per media reports. The foreign office said all three representatives will visit Islamabad from Mar. 29-30.
“During the visit, the foreign ministers will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement on Saturday. “The visiting dignitaries will also call on the prime minister.”
Dr. Abdelatty and Dar held “productive discussions” at the ministry, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening ties and enhancing economic cooperation, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
While Tehran has refused to admit to holding official talks with Washington, Iran has passed a response to US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war via Islamabad, according to an anonymous source cited by the Iranian Tasnim press agency.
A source cited by AFP said the quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad is expected to take place on Monday, with delegations due to arrive in Islamabad by Sunday evening.
‘Crucial meeting’
Former diplomats and foreign affairs analysts termed the meeting an important attempt by Pakistan to de-escalate regional tensions.
Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India and ex-ambassador of the country to Germany, described it as a “crucial meeting.”
“This is a crucial meeting between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye to discuss regional developments,” he told Arab News on Saturday.
He noted that if successful, the talks could force both warring sides to come to the negotiating table and contribute to lasting peace in the region.
Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst, said the meeting highlights Pakistan’s efforts to stay at the forefront of the “conflict de-escalation diplomacy.”
“It’s also a reflection of the middle power agency, with a range of key regional players coordinating on a strategy to increase the chances of a formal US-Iran mediation taking shape,” he said.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss the evolving regional situation, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Sunday.
Dar stressed the need for de-escalation, it said, underscoring the importance of an end to all attacks and hostilities.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday via telephone, Sharif’s office said.
He condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran and informed Pezeshkian of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach, Sharif said in a post on X after the phone call.
