Dar holds key talks with Saudi, Turkish FMs

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with his

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts on Friday, discussing regional developments and preparations for an upcoming meeting of the four-country diplomatic group known as R4.

Dar congratulated Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the election of Mauritania’s Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as the new secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

During the conversation, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional developments and issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the upcoming R4 meeting and agreed to maintain close coordination.

In a separate telephone call, Dar spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two officials reviewed the evolving regional situation and exchanged views on matters of common interest.

Their discussions also included preparations for the forthcoming meeting of the R4 foreign ministers.

The next round of consultations involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt is expected to take place in Istanbul later this month. The meeting comes as the four countries continue efforts to strengthen diplomatic coordination on regional security and political developments.

The R4 framework has emerged as a platform for consultations among the four countries on major regional challenges. Its discussions have included conflicts in the Middle East, regional stability and efforts to coordinate diplomatic positions.

The four foreign ministers most recently met in Amman on August 5 on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting focused on Jerusalem. Dar, Prince Faisal, Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the regional situation and stressed the importance of continued consultation.

The upcoming Istanbul meeting carries additional significance following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7.

The agreement provides for collective defence cooperation, under which an armed attack against one signatory would be treated as an attack against all three. The three countries have described the arrangement as defensive and said it is not aimed at any particular country.

The agreement also provides a framework for greater military coordination, joint exercises and cooperation in defence-related technology.

Egypt’s position has also attracted attention because of its strategic and military importance in the region. Although Cairo did not sign the Makkah defence agreement, its participation in the wider R4 consultations could provide an avenue for greater cooperation on regional security issues.

The Istanbul meeting is therefore expected to focus on the changing security environment in the Middle East, the future direction of the R4 mechanism and ways to strengthen political and diplomatic coordination among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt.