ISLAMABAD: On Sunday (Mar 29), foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye convened in Islamabad for talks aimed at resolving the Middle East war. The meeting was hosted by Pakistan, which has emerged as a key mediator between Iran and the United States. The four-way discussion focused on reviewing regional developments and addressing mutual interests.
Egypt's Badr Abdelatty and Hakan Fidan from Türkiye arrived on Saturday night, while their Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, joined on Sunday afternoon. Security was tightened around Islamabad's Red Zone, where government buildings and diplomatic missions are located. Flags of all four countries were displayed outside the foreign ministry.
Before the main meeting, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held bilateral talks with his counterparts. Fidan and Abdelatty also met with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Pakistan's role as an intermediary is bolstered by its longstanding ties with Iran and close contacts in the Gulf. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Munir have established personal rapport with US President Donald Trump.
Iran, though refusing official talks with Washington, passed a response to Trump's peace plan through Islamabad. Sharif reported a detailed phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts. Dar announced that Iran had allowed 20 more Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily. He emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as the only path forward.