ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed gratitude to the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt following a quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad, where regional leaders discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East. He appreciated their confidence in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability amid escalating tensions.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, brought together key regional stakeholders — including Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty — as part of coordinated efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The conflict, now entering its first month, has heightened concerns over regional instability and potential disruptions to global energy markets.
In a post shared on X, the prime minister said it was a pleasure to receive Prince Faisal bin Farhan, reaffirming Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia. He praised the Kingdom’s “remarkable restraint” during the crisis and acknowledged its leadership role within the Muslim world, emphasizing the importance of unity among Islamic nations in times of turmoil.
He further noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had agreed to maintain close coordination in their shared objective of achieving peace and stability in the region. In separate engagements, the prime minister also welcomed the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Egypt, highlighting the urgency of collective international efforts to end hostilities that are causing significant human and economic losses across Iran and other affected countries.
The premier commended the constructive role played by Türkiye and Egypt in diplomatic efforts and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He expressed appreciation for their trust in Pakistan’s sincere efforts to help bring the two sides to the negotiating table and work toward a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that the visiting foreign ministers departed Islamabad after the conclusion of the consultations. The high-level diplomatic engagements come as Pakistan signals readiness to host direct talks between the United States and Iran in the coming days.
Speaking at the close of the consultations, Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan would be honoured to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the two countries, aimed at achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict. He made the remarks ahead of his planned visit to Beijing for further consultations on the matter.
Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic outreach in recent weeks following the escalation triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which have led to retaliatory actions by Tehran and raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Islamabad has been actively engaging with Washington, Gulf nations, and other Muslim countries to create space for negotiations.
Originally scheduled to take place in Türkiye, the quadrilateral meeting was shifted to Islamabad due to Dar’s inability to travel, as he remained closely involved in efforts to facilitate potential US-Iran talks. Diplomatic sources indicate that discussions in Islamabad could occur within days, possibly involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Sources also suggest that there is cautious optimism surrounding the possibility of a ceasefire announcement coinciding with the start of dialogue, though developments remain uncertain and contingent on evolving circumstances. Separately, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has indicated that a direct meeting between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan could take place in the near future.