In a definitive shift of the global diplomatic center of gravity, Pakistan is set to host a high-level ministerial summit from March 29-30 to finalize de-escalation strategies for the US-Israel-Iran war. The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Saturday that at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia (Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud), Türkiye (Hakan Fidan), and Egypt (Dr. Badr Abdelatty) will arrive in Islamabad for “in-depth discussions.”
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Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt to Visit Islamabad for Consultations
🔗⬇️https://t.co/ehLoO2Av8I pic.twitter.com/3UIAKm2zwm
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 28, 2026
Originally scheduled for Türkiye, the venue was relocated to Islamabad to accommodate Pakistan’s “central and expanding role” as the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran.
The ministerial gathering stems from a regional security mechanism formed on March 19 in Riyadh.
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The Diplomatic Track: What began as a dialogue on defense cooperation has evolved into a robust peace initiative. Following initial intelligence channels opened by Egypt with the IRGC, Pakistan moved to the forefront of the engagement.
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Global Endorsements: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has secured high-level backing for the “Islamabad Option,” including:
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China: FM Wang Yi endorsed Pakistan’s role, advising Tehran that the current US pressure makes this an “opportune time” for negotiations.
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United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres extended “full support” for Pakistan’s pursuit of regional stability.
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Kuwait: Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah has “fully endorsed” the mediation efforts.
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The summit occurs against the backdrop of active, albeit indirect, negotiations.
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Relaying the Message: FM Ishaq Dar recently confirmed that US-Iran indirect talks are occurring via messages relayed by Pakistan.
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The Proposal: A 15-point US framework—focusing on nuclear rollback and maritime freedom—is currently being deliberated by the Iranian leadership. In response, Tehran has floated five counter-conditions, including war reparations and an end to “targeted assassinations.”
The relocation of the talks to Islamabad has intensified global speculation that a face-to-face meeting between US and Iranian officials is imminent.
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The Venue Offer: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally pitched Islamabad as the host for direct negotiations, “subject to concurrence by both sides.”
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Logistical Preparedness: The presence of Saudi, Turkish, and Egyptian FMs provides the necessary regional “guarantor” framework required to transition from indirect messages to a formal ceasefire agreement.
By hosting this quartet, Pakistan reinforces its position as the indispensable bridge in the Middle East. The “Islamabad Summit” represents the most concrete effort to date to prevent Operation Epic Fury from spiraling into a permanent regional conflagration. The FO underscored that the visit will further strengthen cooperation with these “brotherly countries” across multifaceted areas of mutual interest.
