Pakistan to host Saudi, Turkey and Egypt for talks on Mideast war

Pakistan is set to host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Tureky and Egypt from March 29-30 for "in-depth discussions” on a variety of issues, including efforts to reduce the ongoing tensions in the region amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.sued

Top diplomats from Riyadh, Cairo and Ankara are due in the Pakistani capital on Sunday and Monday for "in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region," the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the FO said that at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty will visit Islamabad from March 29 to March 30.

"During the visit, the foreign ministers will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region,” the Foreign Office said, adding that the visiting dignitaries will also call on Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

"Pakistan highly values its relations with the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt,” the statement underscored.

"The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan’s cooperation and coordination with these countries across multifaceted areas of mutual interest,” it noted.

Announcing the same on X, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the "distinguished leaders will engage in comprehensive discussions on a wide range of regional and international issues - focusing on efforts to promote peace and de-escalation”.

Originally planned in Turkey, the talks were shifted to Islamabad due to Pakistan’s growing role in the Iran-US dialogue process and the possibility that it may also host those negotiations.

The venue change reflects Islamabad’s deep involvement in ongoing diplomatic efforts, which made participation in a meeting in Turkey less feasible. This shift has intensified the speculation that an Iran-US meeting is likely to happen in Islamabad in a few days.

They will be hosted by their Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, and a meeting with Sharif is also planned, a statement read. Egypt also confirmed the talks.

As part of preparations, PM Shahbaz Sharif said he had a "detailed telephone conversation with my brother President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran earlier today (Saturday), lasting over one hour."

"I reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, and conveyed Pakistan's solidarity with the brave people of Iran," he wrote on X.

Shahbaz said he also expressed his condolences "on the tragic loss of precious lives and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and displaced."

"I apprised him of Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic outreach — engaging the United States and brotherly Gulf and Islamic countries — to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation."

Shahbaz's office said separately that Pezeshkian "stressed upon the need to build trust in order to facilitate talks and mediation."

The pair have spoken previously in recent weeks about the conflict and Pakistan's commitment to bringing it to an end.

Islamabad has longstanding links with Tehran and close contacts in the Gulf, while Shahabz and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have struck up a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump.