Pakistan has formally offered to host direct talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the month-long war, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stating that Islamabad would be “honored” to facilitate meaningful negotiations. The announcement came hours after a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad that brought together the top diplomats of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. Dar confirmed that both Washington and Tehran have expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to mediate the talks.
A united regional front
Speaking in a video statement, Dar said he briefed the visiting ministers—including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan—on the prospects of potential US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad. The four nations unanimously endorsed the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to containing the situation, reducing the risk of military escalation, and creating conditions for structured dialogue. “We agreed that this war is not in favor of anyone and would only lead to death and destruction,” Dar said, adding that the only “viable” solution is dialogue and diplomacy.
Türkiye’s pivotal role
The gathering underscored Türkiye’s central position in regional mediation efforts. Following the meeting, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met separately with Foreign Minister Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to bringing both sides to the table. Sharif stressed the need for collective efforts to urgently end hostilities. Ankara has maintained open channels with all parties since the conflict began on February 28, and its backing of the Pakistan initiative adds significant weight to the diplomatic push.
Broader international engagement
Dar noted that China has fully supported Pakistan’s initiative to host the talks, while Islamabad remains actively engaged with Washington as part of efforts to de-escalate the situation. The foreign ministers also called for upholding UN Charter principles, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the US-Israel war on Iran enters its second month—with over 1,300 reported deaths and retaliatory strikes disrupting global energy markets—the Islamabad initiative represents one of the most concrete diplomatic efforts to date.