ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held separate meetings with his Turkish, Egyptian and German counterparts in Istanbul on Friday, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations, promoting regional peace and security, and enhancing diplomatic coordination on the evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly Palestine.
During his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Dar thanked Türkiye for hosting the R4 ministerial meeting and the expanded meeting involving foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Dar also conveyed condolences over the loss of lives caused by flash floods following heavy rains in Türkiye and expressed wishes for the swift recovery of those affected.
The two foreign ministers reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East and Palestine. They expressed concern over threats to regional stability and emphasised the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and coordinated efforts to promote regional peace and security.
Both sides strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on regional issues, including under the Makkah Defence Agreement among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The two ministers also reiterated their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Pakistan and Türkiye and expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums.
In his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, Dar reaffirmed the longstanding and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Egypt, with both sides stressing the importance of sustained high-level engagement to advance bilateral relations.
The two ministers agreed to impart greater momentum to cooperation in trade, business-to-business linkages, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, renewable energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges.
They also discussed regional and international developments, particularly the situation in Palestine and the Middle East, and underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued consultations and closer coordination under the Regional Four (R4) framework and on matters of mutual interest.
Separately, Dar met German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul to discuss Pakistan-Germany relations and explore avenues for further strengthening bilateral ties through sustained engagement and cooperation in multiple areas of mutual interest.
The two ministers exchanged views on recent regional and international developments, emphasising the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and sustained international engagement to address emerging challenges and promote peace and stability.
Dar welcomed the constructive engagement of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom with the R4 framework, highlighting the importance of continued consultations and diplomatic coordination on issues of shared concern.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the R4 ministerial meeting and the expanded engagement with the foreign ministers of France, Germany.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026