Islamabad hosts FMs of key Muslim powers, participants agree protracted war serves no one Beijing, UN throws weight
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan signaled a major diplomatic breakthrough on Sunday, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar announcing that Islamabad could host talks between Iran and the United States “in the coming days” amid intensified efforts to de-escalate a rapidly deteriorating regional security situation.
The announcement came at the end of the second round of quadrilateral consultations involving foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, held in Islamabad. This was part of a coordinated push by core Muslim countries to seek an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“I briefed the visiting brother foreign ministers on the prospects for potential talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. The visiting foreign ministers expressed their full support for this initiative,” Dar said in a televised statement after the four-way talks.
“Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides … for a comprehensive and lasting solution,” Dar said, adding that both Tehran and Washington had expressed confidence in Islamabad’s role as a neutral facilitator.
The development marks a significant diplomatic moment for Pakistan, which has quietly positioned itself as a key mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks.
Islamabad had already played a behind-the-scenes role in sending a 15-point US proposal to Tehran, a move seen as laying the groundwork for possible direct engagement.
The Islamabad meeting brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt at the invitation of Pakistan after the initial session held in Riyadh earlier this month.
Dar said the four countries held “very detailed and in-depth discussions” on developments in the regional situation and explored ways to ensure an early and permanent end to the war.
The ministers expressed deep concern over the “devastating impact on lives and livelihoods” caused by the ongoing conflict and warned that continued hostilities would only lead to further destruction.
“There was a clear consensus that this war does not benefit anyone,” Dar noted, stressing the urgency of a collective diplomatic effort.
The participants also emphasized the importance of unity in the Muslim world in a time of crisis, calling it important to respond effectively to new challenges.
A key highlight of the consultations was the strong support of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt for Pakistan’s initiative to facilitate talks between Iran and the United States.
Dar briefed his colleagues on the prospects of such an engagement in Islamabad. All three countries expressed full support for the effort, a development that lends broader regional legitimacy to Pakistan’s mediation role.
The four foreign ministers also agreed on the need to contain the situation, reduce the risk of further military escalation and create conditions conducive to structured negotiations.
They stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable way forward, while calling for adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pakistan’s diplomatic push has also received support from major international stakeholders. Dar revealed China’s full support for Islamabad’s initiative after his telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Similarly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has supported Pakistan’s peace efforts.
In addition, Dar said he had held several talks with foreign ministers from various countries, all of whom expressed their confidence in Pakistan’s role and pledged support for its mediation efforts.
“There is a strong appreciation among all our friends for the efforts of Pakistan,” he said. The latest initiative reflects Islamabad’s broader strategy of proactive diplomacy in response to the regional crisis.
Pakistan has maintained close cooperation with both regional and global actors, including the United States, in an effort to prevent further escalation.
Officials say Islamabad’s unique position — maintaining working relations with Washington while enjoying close ties with Tehran — has allowed it to act as a credible interlocutor.
In addition to crisis diplomacy, the quadrilateral meeting also focused on strengthening cooperation between the four countries across multiple domains.
Ministers discussed ways to deepen coordination and build a more structured framework for cooperation, signaling that the grouping could evolve into a more permanent consultative mechanism.
While Dar’s announcement has sparked cautious optimism, diplomatic sources acknowledge that significant challenges remain.
The success of any engagement between Iran and the United States will depend on bridging deep-seated mistrust and addressing contentious issues that have long defined relations between the two adversaries.
Nevertheless, Pakistan’s emergence as a potential venue for talks reflects a rare moment of diplomatic convergence and a test of its ability to translate facilitation into tangible results.
As the region braces for further uncertainty, all eyes are now on Islamabad, where a breakthrough, however tentative, could reshape the trajectory of the conflict.
