Dar steps up regional diplomacy, holds talks with Iranian and Egyptian FMs on peace efforts
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar holds talks with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi on regional tensions and the OIC meeting in Baghdad, while condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in a call with Egyptian FM Badr Abdelatty. The discussions focus on diplomacy, regional peace and the upcoming R-4 meeting.
- DPM Dar, Araghchi discuss regional situation, OIC ministerial meeting in Baghdad; agree to maintain close contact
- Pakistan reiterates commitment to a negotiated settlement of Iran-US conflict, warning against further regional escalation
- Dar condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirms Pakistan’s solidarity with Kingdom and support for its sovereignty and security
- Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia prepare for next R-4 meeting amid regional tensions
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday held telephone conversations with his Iranian and Egyptian counterparts to discuss the evolving regional situation, diplomatic efforts to promote peace and the ongoing meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad, according to the Foreign Office.
In a post on X, the FO said DPM/FM Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi discussed “the evolving regional situation” and “the ongoing OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad”.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephone conversation today with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi @araghchi. The two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation and the ongoing OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad. DPM/FM underscored the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges. The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 18, 2026
Dar “underscored the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges”, the statement said, adding that the two foreign ministers also “agreed to maintain close contact”.
Pakistan and Iran were expected to hold further consultations on regional peace efforts on the sidelines of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad on October 17–18.
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the meeting would provide an opportunity for consultations among key regional players, including Islamabad and Tehran.
Pakistan has continued to advocate a negotiated settlement to the conflict involving Iran and the United States. On October 9, the military’s media wing chief, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said Pakistan remained committed to a “negotiated and peaceful outcome” and warned against the conflict spreading further across the region.
He said Pakistan had condemned attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, as well as Iranian attacks on Arab and Gulf countries.
Dar, Egyptian Counterpart Discuss Upcoming R-4 Meeting
Earlier on Sunday, Dar also held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, during which he strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with the Kingdom and support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
In a post on X, the Foreign Office said the two leaders also discussed the next meeting of the R-4 grouping, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephone conversation today with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdelatty. The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments and strongly condemned the Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reaffirming their full solidarity with the Kingdom and support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. They also discussed cooperation under the R-4 (Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia) framework and looked forward to next meeting of the R-4 soon to further strengthen mutual ties and to coordinate on the regional issues.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 18, 2026
“The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments,” the ministry said, adding that both looked forward to holding the next R-4 meeting soon to “further strengthen mutual ties and to coordinate on the regional issues”.
According to the FO, the R-4 framework brings together Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations and coordinate positions on regional issues.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt held the latest round of high-level consultations in Istanbul late last month, as Islamabad stepped up diplomatic coordination with key regional powers following the signing of a landmark defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The four countries have been coordinating under the R-4 framework, launched earlier this year to intensify consultations on regional crises, particularly the conflict involving the United States and Iran, and broader efforts to promote regional stability. The grouping has held several meetings since March, with its fourth ministerial meeting taking place in Cairo in June.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi Arabia escalated in October, with missile and drone strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, killing and injuring civilians and disrupting air traffic.
Saudi authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in a strike on Riyadh’s airport on October 10. Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, under the R-4 framework, condemned the attacks and backed the Kingdom’s right to take legitimate measures to counter the threat.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye last met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22 to discuss regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.
During the meeting, the four countries condemned attacks against Saudi Arabia, including recent Houthi strikes, and reaffirmed their support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. They also stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, called for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to be upheld to help secure lasting regional peace and stability, and reiterated their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
FIRST MAJOR R-4 ENGAGEMENT SINCE MAKKAH JOINT DEFENCE AGREEMENT SIGNED
The Istanbul meeting assumes added significance as it would be the first major R-4 engagement since Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
The agreement commits the three countries to collective defence, stipulating that an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all. Pakistan and Türkiye have stressed that the pact is defensive in nature and is not directed against any particular country. The agreement also envisages deeper military coordination, joint exercises and cooperation in defence technology.
Egypt’s potential participation had emerged as an important question in the run-up to the Makkah agreement. Turkish officials had indicated that Cairo could eventually join the new defence arrangement, given its military weight and strategic importance in the region. However, Egypt did not become a signatory when Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye concluded the pact in Makkah.
Reference Link:- https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/19/dar-steps-up-regional-diplomacy-holds-talks-with-iranian-egyptian-fms-on-peace-efforts
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
