Ishaq Dar, Saudi FM Discuss R4 Talks as New OIC Chief Elected
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone talks with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts on Friday, discussing regional developments and upcoming diplomatic engagements as Pakistan intensifies coordination with key Middle Eastern partners.
During his conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Dar congratulated him on the consensus election of Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as the new secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional developments, matters of mutual interest and the forthcoming meeting of the Regional Four, or R4, and agreed to remain closely engaged.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed Elected New OIC Chief
The 57-member OIC elected Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as its new secretary-general during the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers at the organisation’s headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday.
The OIC confirmed the election officially, ending any uncertainty over the leadership transition. OIC official announcement
Cheikh Ahmed is a veteran Mauritanian diplomat and former foreign minister who has also held senior international positions.
His election places a seasoned diplomat at the head of one of the world’s largest intergovernmental organisations at a time of heightened tensions across the Middle East and continuing diplomatic disputes over Palestine and Jerusalem.
The OIC comprises 57 member states and describes itself as the collective voice of the Muslim world.
Dar Also Holds Talks With Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan
Dar separately spoke by telephone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The two ministers discussed the evolving regional situation and exchanged views on issues of common interest. They also reviewed forthcoming diplomatic engagements, including the next R4 meeting.
The parallel conversations with Riyadh and Ankara highlight Pakistan’s coordination with two of its closest regional partners ahead of the four-country consultations.
What Is the R4?
The R4 framework brings together Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt for high-level consultations on regional political and security issues.
The grouping has been used this year to coordinate positions on rapidly changing developments in the Middle East, including conflict involving Iran and the United States and wider regional stability.
The foreign ministers of the four countries have held several rounds of consultations, with meetings taking place in Cairo and, most recently, Amman on August 5.
During the Amman meeting, Dar, Prince Faisal, Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the regional situation and stressed the importance of continued coordination.
Another R4 meeting is expected in Istanbul, with Türkiye having invited Dar to attend consultations with the Saudi and Egyptian foreign ministers.
Regional Diplomacy in Focus
The upcoming meeting comes amid intensified diplomatic engagement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and continued uncertainty across the Middle East.
For Islamabad, the R4 provides another channel for coordinating with major regional states while maintaining its broader diplomatic engagement on Middle Eastern security and conflict resolution.
Friday’s conversations also demonstrate that the OIC leadership transition and the R4 consultations are separate but overlapping diplomatic developments.
Dar’s congratulations to Prince Faisal concerned Saudi Arabia’s role as host of the OIC meeting at which Cheikh Ahmed was elected, while the discussion of the R4 focused on upcoming regional consultations. The new OIC secretary-general is Mauritanian, not Saudi, an important distinction for accurate reporting.
The next R4 engagement is expected to provide Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt with an opportunity to assess current regional developments and coordinate their diplomatic positions as Middle Eastern security challenges continue to evolve.
