Foreign ministers of Muslim and European countries attend a meeting in Istanbul. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Friday threw their collective weight behind the Islamabad-brokered understanding between Iran and the United States, as regional and European powers stepped up diplomatic efforts to prevent another round of hostilities in the Gulf.
The endorsement came at a crucial R4 foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul against the backdrop of renewed concerns that the United States and Israel could again strike Iran, potentially unravelling the fragile pause in hostilities and further disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting brought together Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the four countries underlined the “urgent need” to address the US-Israel conflict with Iran only through dialogue and diplomacy and to prevent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including vessels.
Significantly for Islamabad, the ministers “expressed support for the Islamabad MoU and welcomed continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation,” while reaffirming their commitment to a lasting negotiated settlement.
The reference was seen as recognition of Pakistan’s continuing diplomatic role in efforts to prevent the resumption of the Iran conflict. Dar briefed his counterparts on Islamabad’s mediation efforts during the subsequent expanded meeting with European foreign ministers.
The Istanbul gathering assumed greater significance because the R4 also sat with the major European powers for the first time. France, Germany and the United Kingdom – traditionally known as the E3 – were joined by Italy, effectively turning Friday’s gathering into an eight-country consultation between four regional and four European states.
The discussions covered Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, Palestine and wider threats to maritime security.
The urgency surrounding the meeting was underscored by Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan, who warned after the talks that renewed military action against Iran would only deepen instability.
“Military intervention in Iran is by no means a solution. No one supports this at the moment,” Fidan told reporters.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani similarly warned ahead of the meeting that there were signs hostilities in the Gulf could resume after the US elections, arguing that preventing another war should be the immediate priority.
The R4 statement also reflected growing concern over disruption to one of the world’s most important maritime arteries.
The ministers stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and called for the “swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage” through the Strait of Hormuz. They rejected restrictions affecting lawful navigation, warning that disruption of sea lanes threatened energy, food and fertiliser supplies as well as global supply chains.
On Yemen, the four countries adopted an equally firm position, strongly condemning Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb.
They expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised Yemeni government and urged the Houthis to halt military operations and return to the political process.
The statement is significant for Pakistan since Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh are also partners in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August. Dar and Fidan, during their bilateral meeting in Istanbul, condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and agreed to maintain close coordination under the defence arrangement.
Palestine remained another major focus. The R4 described Israeli occupation as a fundamental source of regional instability, called for an end to violence and settlement activity and reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers also demanded uninterrupted humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Gaza.
Following the ministerial consultations, the participating foreign ministers called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Dar conveyed greetings from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
According to the Foreign Office, the meeting with Erdogan involved “candid exchanges” on regional and global developments and emphasised continued dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
Earlier in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said the R4 had emerged as a mechanism to deal with regional instability and was now being broadened through engagement with European powers.
“The discussions will cover issues affecting the entire region, including the safe passage of maritime sea lanes, the situation in Yemen, the Houthis, and the Strait of Hormuz,” Khan told his weekly briefing.
He said the primary objective was to explore ways of promoting peace and stability and de-escalating the overall situation.
The spokesperson also confirmed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had completed their ratification procedures for the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while Türkiye was undertaking the required domestic legal process.
He stressed that the agreement was defensive in nature and consistent with the UN Charter, adding that any decision to invoke its collective-defence provisions in response to attacks would have to be taken by the three partner countries in accordance with the agreement.
