Pakistan urges diplomacy as Dar holds talks with Iran and Egypt

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for continued diplomatic engagement during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, as Pakistan maintained consultations over regional tensions. The Foreign Office said their discussion also covered the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting in Baghdad.

In a separate conversation, Dar and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. According to the Foreign Office’s account, both ministers expressed solidarity with the kingdom and backed the protection of its sovereignty, territory and security.

Their discussions also addressed the next meeting of the Regional Four, or R-4, which brings together Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The ministers expressed interest in another meeting soon to maintain coordination on regional developments and strengthen cooperation among the participating countries.

The Foreign Office presented the exchange as part of continuing consultations among regional partners. Its account linked support for Saudi Arabia with further diplomatic coordination through the four-country grouping. The conversation concerned preparations for another engagement; it did not constitute an announcement that a new meeting had already taken place.

The diplomatic contacts follow earlier ministerial discussions in New York. On September 22, Dar joined his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The Foreign Office said those talks addressed regional developments and support for efforts to resolve tensions peacefully. Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continued engagement through the R-4 framework.

Earlier in the year, the four countries held their fourth consultative meeting in Cairo. That gathering brought together Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Abdelatty. Their joint statement emphasised the security concerns of regional states and efforts towards a lasting, verifiable settlement.

The latest calls continue that pattern of bilateral conversations alongside multilateral consultations. For Pakistan, the immediate diplomatic agenda includes maintaining communication with Iran while coordinating with its R-4 partners. Further details about the next four-country meeting remain to be announced.