Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Friday departed for Istanbul to participate in the ministerial meeting of R4, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt, and the R4+E3 meeting with the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the R4 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Istanbul today.

This will be followed by the R4+E3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, featuring the participation of the E3 countries - the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. This marks the first meeting of the seven countries in this format.

The foreign ministers will be hosted by their Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, for talks on regional conflicts. The seven countries will meet in this format for the first time, at Turkiye's initiative, as wars involving Iran, Yemen, and Ukraine threaten shipping routes and regional security.

The ministers are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the latest situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments related to Yemen, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and opportunities for closer cooperation between regional and European countries. Hakan Fidan is expected to emphasize the need for a diplomatic solution to tensions between the United States and Iran, the importance of freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, and reiterate Turkiye's support for Saudi Arabia's security against attacks by Yemen's Houthi fighters under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed between Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

He will also inform his counterparts that Turkiye has been working to prevent the war in Ukraine from spreading to the Black Sea, pointing to the regional security risks posed by the conflict. The meetings will focus on key regional developments and explore coordinated diplomatic approaches to address shared challenges and advance regional peace and stability.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Dar will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts. Pakistan's participation in these meetings reflects its continued commitment to constructive diplomacy, regional cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The diplomatic engagement is seen as a significant step toward fostering stability in a volatile geopolitical landscape, ensuring that the voices of regional stakeholders are heard in the broader international discourse. The inclusion of the E3 group highlights the growing necessity for a bridge between Middle Eastern and European security architectures.

As global supply chains remain vulnerable to regional instability, the collaborative efforts of these seven nations aim to secure maritime corridors and promote economic resilience. Pakistan's active role in these deliberations underscores its strategic importance as a key player in regional security frameworks.