R-4 ministers discuss Islamabad MoU’s implementation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye on Sunday reaffirmed their coordination to promote regional peace and stability, welcoming the recent signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran as a step towards de-escalation.

The statement followed a meeting of the R-4 ministerial dialogue held in Cairo, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed regional and international developments at the invitation of Egypt.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office, the foreign ministers expressed deep appreciation to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for presenting his vision for the region’s future, describing it as guidance for the group’s efforts to promote stability in the Middle East.

READ MORE: FM Ishaq Dar to attend R-4 foreign ministers’ meeting in Cairo

The meeting provided, according to the statement, a comprehensive exchange of views on regional and international developments, while reaffirming the importance of continued consultation and coordination among the four countries to support peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and the wider region.

The ministers welcomed the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the US and Iran earlier this week, describing it as a significant step towards de-escalation and the reduction of tensions in the region.

They said the development would help end a conflict that posed serious risks to regional security and stability, as well as to energy markets, international maritime routes, global supply chains, and global trade.

The statement added that the ministers commended the efforts of regional and international actors who facilitated the understanding and stressed the importance of full implementation of the commitments undertaken by all parties.

They emphasised that the positive momentum generated by the MoU should be sustained through continued dialogue, with a view to achieving a lasting, verifiable and mutually acceptable arrangement in subsequent phases of negotiations.

The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia also lauded Pakistan’s role in helping secure the agreement and acknowledged Qatar’s support in facilitating the negotiations.

They appreciated Pakistan’s close coordination with the three countries throughout the process, describing it as instrumental in achieving what they termed a historic outcome.

The meeting also underscored the need to address the concerns of regional states, particularly those related to the security and stability of Gulf Arab countries and the Levant, with regional security considerations described as central to efforts to strengthen collective security and long-term stability.

Reaffirming the centrality of the Palestinian issue, the ministers said it remained at the heart of efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.

They focused particular attention on the humanitarian and political situation in Gaza, the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, reiterating support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The statement said the ministers reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state remains an indispensable foundation for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, in line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026