New Delhi, Updated At: 11:16 AM Mar 29, 2026 IST
The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt arrived in Islamabad late Saturday for high-level consultations with Pakistani leadership aimed at de‑escalating the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan landed in the Pakistani capital alongside his counterparts, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. He was received at Nur Khan Airbase by Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) Syed Ali Asad Gillani.
Fidan is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and to participate in broader consultations on the rapidly evolving regional situation. According to the ministry, the discussions will focus on coordinated diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and explore pathways for dialogue amid the escalating conflict, which has entered its second month and drawn in multiple regional actors.
The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to position itself as a potential mediator. The Islamabad meeting is part of a wider diplomatic push by key Muslim-majority countries aiming to prevent further escalation, particularly between the United States and Iran. Reports indicate these countries have been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran as part of backchannel efforts.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered to host talks between the United States and Iran, a proposal that received a public nod from US President Donald Trump, signaling a possible diplomatic opening. Sharif said Pakistan was ready to facilitate “meaningful and conclusive talks” in the interest of regional peace and stability.
These back-to-back engagements are seen as an attempt by regional powers to create an off-ramp to the conflict, though uncertainties remain over Iran’s response to a proposed US framework for negotiations.
