Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on March 28 that Pakistan has seen progress in talks with Iran: “I am pleased to share the great news that the Government of Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; two ships will cross the Strait daily." He says that this is a “harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region.” Pakistan is hosting regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt as it works to help end the war in Iran.
Pakistan is a close friend of the Trump administration and is positioning itself to play a larger role in the post-war era. In addition, Saudi Arabia has spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the growing prominence of South Asian countries in the Middle East.
Pakistan said on March 28 that the recent discussion with Iran “marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction. Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.”
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “discussed the latest regional developments during a phone call on Saturday,” Arab News in Riyadh noted. “Repercussions of the ongoing military escalation on global and regional security and stability and risks to international maritime security and the global economy were also discussed during the call, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Modi reiterated his country’s condemnation of repeated Iranian attacks that threaten the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty,” the report noted.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that trust is needed to facilitate talks. Arab News noted that “Pezeshkian had praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and that the two leaders had discussed hostilities in the region and efforts to end the conflict during a call that lasted over an hour. Sharif briefed Pezeshkian on Pakistan’s diplomatic contacts with the United States and Gulf states, it said.”
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt meet in Pakistan to discuss Iran war
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt met on Saturday. This shows a changing world order. While the US has had tough discussions with the G7 in Europe and the White House is arguing with NATO, the regional powers in the Middle East are stepping into the breach to do diplomacy.
This shows how countries linked to the emerging multi-polar world order are increasingly working together without the US present in the room. They are seizing the initiative. Turkey is a member of NATO. Pakistan is a friend of the US. Egypt is also a close friend of the US, alongside Saudi Arabia. This matters because it shows that US allies are seeking to end the war in Iran.
Pakistan’s foreign minister noted that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Pakistan in the evening. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X that he had held a “detailed telephone conversation with my brother President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran earlier today, lasting over one hour. I reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the brave people of Iran. Expressed, once again, my condolences on the tragic loss of precious lives and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and displaced.”
“I apprised him of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach - engaging the United States and brotherly Gulf and Islamic countries - to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation,” he noted.