Foreign ministers review recent regional developments and agree to maintain close contact on issues of common interest
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: X/ File
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov praised Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace and de-escalation during a phone call with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday.
The conflict began after coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, including the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone strikes on Israeli and US targets. Pakistan has since assumed a prominent diplomatic role in efforts to de-escalate the crisis, positioning Islamabad as a venue and facilitator for potential US-Iran talks.
Pakistan’s leadership has received international recognition for its role in facilitating peace efforts in the Middle East, particularly in promoting US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for regional stability. Praise from both US and Iranian officials underscores Pakistan’s growing profile as a diplomatic mediator in regional conflicts, reflecting its commitment to international peace efforts and its strategic influence in South and West Asia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today on X that FM Dar held a phone call with his Uzbek counterpart who “praised Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace, stability and de-escalation, and appreciated Pakistan’s leadership in hosting the recent meeting of four foreign ministers in Islamabad”.
He also expressed full support for the Pakistan-China Five-Point Initiative aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East.
“The two leaders also reviewed recent regional developments and agreed to maintain close contact on issues of mutual interest,” the statement added.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50spoke today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs for #UzbekistanBakhtiyor Saidov @FM_Saidov.
FM Saidov praised Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace, stability and de-escalation, and… pic.twitter.com/zjsZYh2xN3
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 2, 2026
Last week, Pakistan hosted the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who arrived in Islamabad over the weekend for a four-way meeting focused on de-escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
The 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.
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After the four-way talks on Sunday, FM Dar announced in a telecast that Islamabad could host high-voltage talks between Iran and the US “in the coming days”. “I briefed the visiting 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,” he said.
He added, “Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides for a comprehensive and lasting solution,” adding that both Tehran and Washington had expressed confidence in Islamabad’s role as a neutral facilitator.
