Pakistan is bringing together foreign ministers from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in a renewed diplomatic push aimed at crafting a coordinated roadmap to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.

The two-day meeting, starting Sunday in Islamabad, will be led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with a joint session scheduled with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Officials say discussions will centre on de-escalation strategies, confidence-building measures, and possible pathways for indirect dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

The initiative comes amid intensified backchannel diplomacy by Islamabad. Sharif recently held an extended call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he criticized Israeli strikes on Iran and reiterated Pakistan’s support for dialogue-driven solutions. Pezeshkian stressed the need for trust-building as a foundation for any mediation effort.

According to TRT World, the talks were initially planned in Türkiye but were later shifted to Pakistan, highlighting Islamabad’s emerging role as a neutral facilitator. Regional stakeholders are increasingly viewing Pakistan as a channel for indirect communication as tensions continue to rise.

The meeting also aligns with broader international efforts to revive diplomacy. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul suggested that a direct US-Iran engagement could take place in Pakistan in the near future, though details remain unclear.

Iranian media reports indicate that Tehran has already transmitted its response to a US proposal through Pakistani intermediaries, even as it publicly denies direct negotiations with Washington.

With four key regional players at the table, the Islamabad talks are being seen as a critical attempt to outline a diplomatic roadmap and prevent the US-Iran standoff from escalating into a wider regional conflict.

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