Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travels to Türkiye for meetings involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and three European powers to discuss regional security and diplomatic cooperation.
WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar departed Islamabad for Istanbul on Friday to participate in two ministerial meetings bringing together Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and three major European countries.
According to the APP, Dar is attending the meetings at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The first gathering involves the four countries of the R4 grouping, followed by an expanded meeting with the United Kingdom, France and Germany under the R4+E3 format.
The expanded gathering marks the first meeting of the seven countries in this format, providing an opportunity to discuss regional developments and explore coordinated diplomatic responses to shared challenges.
Seven countries to discuss regional security
The R4 grouping comprises Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The E3 consists of the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
The meetings are expected to address regional security concerns, developments in the Middle East and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between regional and European powers.
According to reporting by Dawn, citing Reuters, the agenda includes the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments in Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian issue and diplomatic efforts concerning the Russia-Ukraine war. Freedom of navigation and wider regional stability are also expected to feature in discussions.
The meetings come amid heightened regional tensions and concerns about the security of important maritime routes used for international trade and energy shipments.
Pakistan seeks stronger diplomatic coordination
Pakistan’s participation reflects Islamabad’s stated commitment to constructive diplomacy, regional cooperation and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The expanded format brings together four regional countries and three European powers, creating an opportunity to exchange views on conflicts and security challenges affecting both regions.
The discussions could also provide a platform for exploring areas where the participating countries can coordinate diplomatic initiatives and work towards reducing regional tensions.
However, the meeting’s announcement does not establish that the seven countries have reached any joint agreement or adopted a common position on the issues under discussion.
Bilateral meetings also planned
During his visit to Istanbul, Dar is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, according to Pakistan’s official announcement.
Such meetings provide opportunities to discuss individual bilateral relationships alongside the broader regional agenda.
The outcomes of these discussions, including any joint statements or agreements, will depend on the talks themselves and subsequent official announcements.
