ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are moving quietly but steadily toward formalizing a new quadrilateral framework as rapid developments in the Middle East push key regional players to coordinate more closely on diplomacy and security.
While officials stopped short of calling it an alliance, the pace and frequency of engagements suggest the four-nation forum is evolving into a structured grouping aimed at shaping outcomes in a volatile region.
The latest step came on Tuesday, when senior officials from the four countries
met in Islamabad following up on earlier consultations between their foreign ministers.
Pakistan’s delegation at the senior officials’ meeting was led by Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, Additional Foreign Secretary and Spokesman. The Turkish side was led by Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt was represented by Ambassador Nazih El Naggari, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, while the Saudi delegation was led by Prince Dr Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud Al-Kabeer AlSaud, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting, hosted by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together top diplomats to determine proposals that will now be presented at the upcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Antalya on April 17 on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Pakistan is moving towards quad framework
The consultations come against a backdrop of increased regional instability, particularly the recent Iranian-US military escalation, which has changed diplomatic calculations and triggered urgent efforts to prevent further spillover.
The four countries had first met at foreign minister level in Riyadh on March 19, when tensions between Tehran and Washington were at their peak. Just ten days later, they met again in Islamabad, underscoring both the urgency and seriousness of the initiative.
Now, with another meeting in Antalya within days, officials say the momentum reflects a shared recognition that traditional diplomatic formats are no longer sufficient to respond to fast-moving crises in the Middle East.
Diplomatic sources told The Express Pakinomist that the discussions are focused on devising a cooperation framework centered on conflict de-escalation, economic coordination and political alignment on key regional issues.
“There is a clear convergence of views among the four capitals on the need for a coordinated approach,” a source said, adding that while the structure of the grouping is still being drawn up, “it is moving beyond ad hoc consultations.”
During their stay, the visiting delegations also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who stressed the importance of institutionalizing cooperation between what he described as “brotherly countries”.
Dar stressed that closer coordination could help advance common goals of peace, stability and economic development, especially at a time when geopolitical uncertainty is deepening across the Middle East.
Analysts say the new square reflects a pragmatic alignment rather than a formal bloc, driven by overlapping interests in regional stability, energy security and diplomatic leverage.
They warn, however, that the success of such a framework will depend on how effectively the four countries can reconcile their individual foreign policy priorities while maintaining a unified stance on contentious issues.
