Key Takeaways
- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
- The meeting focused on regional security and dialogue to promote peace and stability.
- Dar will participate in R-4 and R-4-plus meetings, including with European E-3 bloc.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, ahead of a series of regional and multilateral meetings.
The meeting, which took place on Friday, was part of a broader diplomatic effort by Pakistan to engage with key regional and European powers.
During the meeting, both officials discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East and Palestine.
They expressed concern over threats to regional stability and emphasized the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and coordinated efforts to promote peace and security.
The pair also condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on regional issues, including under the Makkah Defence Agreement.
Dar thanked Fidan for hosting the meetings and highlighted the longstanding bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Pakistan and Turkey.
The visit is part of a one-day trip for Dar, who arrived in Istanbul earlier in the day and was received by Director General of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cihad Erginay and Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Shaiq Ahmed.
During his visit, Dar will participate in the R-4 and R-4-plus meetings, which will include representatives from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The R-4 group, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, has been focusing on regional security and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.
Additionally, the ministers will participate in a meeting with counterparts from the European E-3 bloc — UK, France, and Germany — following the R-4 meeting.
This will be the first meeting of the seven countries in this format, with the focus on key regional developments and exploring coordinated diplomatic approaches to address shared challenges and advance regional peace and stability.
