Foreign ministers from Egypt and Turkiye have arrived in Islamabad for high-level talks, with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister expected to join shortly, as Pakistan steps up diplomatic efforts to ease escalating regional tensions amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The two-day visit, taking place from March 29 to 30, comes at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The discussions are expected to focus on de-escalation measures, regional stability, and coordinated diplomatic engagement among the participating countries.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister was received by Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ahmed Maroof and is scheduled to hold consultations on regional developments, along with a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Foreign Office described the visit as a reflection of the “close and brotherly relations” between Pakistan and Egypt and their continued coordination on regional and international issues.
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister arrived at Nur Khan Airbase and was received by Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Asad Gillani. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with Ishaq Dar on key regional and bilateral matters, including ongoing efforts to reduce tensions.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty are expected to participate in in-depth discussions on regional developments and de-escalation efforts. All visiting dignitaries are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the visit.
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister indicated that the talks would assess the current state of negotiations and explore possible mechanisms to reduce tensions in the region.
Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic facilitator in the conflict, helping relay communications between Washington and Tehran. Officials say Islamabad has conveyed a US proposal to Iran aimed at ending the conflict and has offered to host peace talks, with Iran indicating that negotiations could be held in Pakistan or Türkiye.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly positioned Pakistan as a neutral venue for dialogue, a move that has drawn international attention. Meanwhile, diplomatic engagement continues as Pakistan works with multiple countries to support de-escalation and stability in the region.
The talks come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with concerns over security, energy supplies, and trade routes remaining central to ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Source: The Express Tribune