Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate phone calls with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt to discuss bilateral relations and the fast-changing situation in the Middle East.
During the call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the two leaders reviewed the strong fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and agreed to stay closely coordinated on regional issues.
Dar also spoke with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, where both sides stressed the need for dialogue and de-escalation amid the ongoing tensions.
🇸🇦📞🇵🇰 | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan received a phone call from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar. pic.twitter.com/HmINdUwMfD
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 3, 2026
In his conversation with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Dar highlighted the Pakistan-China five-point initiative aimed at bringing peace and stability to the Middle East and the Gulf. Al Zayani appreciated Pakistan’s active role in promoting diplomacy.
These calls come as Pakistan continues to position itself as a neutral facilitator for peace talks between the US and Iran. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts and made it clear that Iran has “never refused” to hold talks in Islamabad. He ended his message with “Pakistan Zindabad.”
Ishaq Dar responded warmly, calling Araghchi his “dear brother” and welcoming the clarification.
Backchannel efforts to arrange direct US-Iran talks in Islamabad are still ongoing, though a few planned high-level meetings (including one involving US Vice President JD Vance) were postponed at the last minute. Sources say both sides need more time for internal consultations, but the willingness for dialogue remains.
Pakistan also hosted foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia last week to discuss practical steps, including ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reduce tensions.
Overall, Islamabad is quietly working behind the scenes to push for de-escalation and present itself as an honest broker in the regional crisis.
