Four-nation talks on Middle East crisis to open in Islamabad today as Pakistan steps up diplomatic efforts
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty (left) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (right) as the leaders arrived at Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 29, 2026. PHOTOS: MOFA/X
At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, an important four-nation meeting on the current regional situation will be held in Islamabad today and tomorrow (March 29 and 30).
The foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkiye arrived at the Foreign Office and were both received by Dar.
In a tweet on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the arrival of Egyptian Foreign Minister, Dr Badr Abdelatty, at the ministry, where he was received by Dar. “The two sides will hold bilateral consultations on regional developments and matters of mutual interest,’ the ministry wrote.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was received by Deputy Prime Minister/Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two sides will hold bilateral consultations on regional developments and matters of… pic.twitter.com/SMQiTVyeoZ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2026
Further, the Foreign Office announced that Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, arrived at the ministry, where he was also received by the deputy prime minister. “The two leaders will hold bilateral consultations on all issues of mutual interest, including regional developments,” the tweet concluded.
FM of Türkiye Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan arrived at MoFA Islamabad today and was received by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50. The two leaders will hold bilateral consultations on all issues of mutual interest including regional… pic.twitter.com/ylrXFYSaqQ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2026
Abdelatty arrived in Islamabad last night to participate in the meeting, where Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ahmed Maroof accorded him a warm welcome. Fidan was received by Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Asad Gillani at Nur Khan Airbase.
Read: Iran’s president tells PM Shehbaz trust needed for talks to end Middle East conflict
Both foreign ministers will participate in the four-nation meeting, which will include detailed deliberations on the regional security situation, tensions in the Middle East, and matters of mutual cooperation.
The diplomatic consultations will include discussions on regional stability, the promotion of peace, and a joint strategy. It is expected that a joint course of action for peace and stability in the region will emerge from the discussions.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the United States and Iran in their ongoing conflict which has spread across the Gulf region.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly offered Pakistan as a venue for US-Iran peace talks, an offer that received an extraordinary boost when Trump reposted it on his Truth Social platform, a move widely seen in Islamabad as Washington’s tacit endorsement of Pakistan’s emerging role as a mediator.
On Thursday, Dar confirmed that indirect communication between the US and Iran was underway through messages being relayed by Pakistan, with Turkiye and Egypt also assisting diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the tensions in the Middle East.
The deputy prime minister has engaged with various political figures as Pakistan continues to call for de-escalation of the conflict; these include discussions with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
