Islamabad will host foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt this weekend for urgent consultations on the escalating US-Iranian conflict, Pakistan's Foreign Office announced Friday, positioning the country at the center of regional diplomatic efforts to contain a war threatening to reshape the Middle East.
The high-level talks, scheduled for March 29-30, bring together Sunni-majority nations in what observers describe as a delicate balancing act between traditional Gulf allies and neighboring Iran. The Foreign Office statement confirmed discussions would focus on "efforts to reduce ongoing tensions" as the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran enters its second week.
Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's Prime Minister, held phone consultations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this week, according to government sources. The bilateral conversation preceded Friday's announcement of the broader multilateral summit, suggesting Pakistan coordinated with Tehran before convening regional powers.
The gathering reflects Pakistan's precarious position in a conflict that could destabilize Afghanistan and send shockwaves across South Asia. Islamabad shares a 900-kilometer border with Iran and maintains complex relationships with both Washington and Tehran. The country has historically attempted to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran, though those efforts have yielded limited results.
For Afghanistan, already isolated under Taliban governance, the Iran war carries immediate implications. Any disruption to Iranian trade routes could worsen the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Afghans who depend on cross-border commerce. Taliban officials have maintained public silence on the conflict, but sources familiar with their thinking describe deep concern about potential spillover violence and refugee flows.
Regional analysts note the absence of certain key players from the Islamabad talks. Qatar, which hosts a major US military base while maintaining diplomatic channels with Iran, was not listed among participants. Neither was Iraq, despite Baghdad's attempts to position itself as a regional mediator.
