Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Friday to participate in high-level diplomatic meetings involving Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and three major European powers, as tensions continue across the Middle East.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Dar is attending the meetings at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The discussions will begin with a meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, known as the R4 grouping.
The four countries will subsequently be joined by the United Kingdom, France and Germany for talks under the expanded R4+E3 framework.
“This will be the first meeting of the seven countries in this format,” the Foreign Office said in an earlier statement.
The meetings are taking place against a backdrop of escalating tensions involving Iran, Yemen, Gulf countries and the wider Middle East.
According to the Foreign Office, the discussions will examine “key regional developments” and consider “coordinated diplomatic approaches to address shared challenges and advance regional peace and stability”.
The seven-country gathering is expected to provide an opportunity for participating governments to exchange views on regional security concerns and explore possibilities for greater diplomatic coordination.
Dar is also scheduled to hold separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts during his visit to Istanbul.
Upon his arrival, the foreign minister was welcomed by Ambassador Cihad Erginay, Director General at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Shaiq Ahmed, Consul General in Istanbul Khawaja Khurram Naeem and Additional Secretary Ambassador Khalil Hashmi were also present.
Officials from Pakistan’s embassy in Ankara and consulate general in Istanbul joined the reception.
Emphasising Islamabad’s diplomatic priorities, the Foreign Office said:
“Pakistan’s participation reflects its continued commitment to constructive diplomacy, regional cooperation and the peaceful resolution of disputes.”
The Istanbul meetings represent a new format for consultations between the four regional countries and the three European powers, with discussions centred on diplomatic responses to developments affecting Middle Eastern security and stability.