Fidan Invites Dar to Istanbul Meeting with Saudi and Egyptian Foreign Ministers Soon

Istanbul – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan invites Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, to join a key meeting of top diplomats from Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The invitation came during a phone call on Wednesday, where both leaders discussed regional peace and stability.

According to the Foreign Office, the two ministers exchanged views on recent developments in the region. DPM Dar accepted the invite and confirmed he will attend the R-4 meeting in Istanbul later this month.

This meeting comes at a sensitive time. The US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28, has shaken the wider Middle East. Gulf countries have been drawn into the conflict, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been badly disrupted.

The R-4 meeting follows a major step taken earlier this month. On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Under this deal, an attack on any one of the three nations will be treated as an attack on all of them.

Turkiye has since said the pact remains open to new members, with Egypt seen as a likely future partner. Officials stressed the agreement is not aimed at Iran or any other country. Instead, it serves as a shared pledge of support among allies.

Speaking to Anadolu news agency, FM Fidan explained the bigger vision behind the pact. He said the goal is not to stay limited to three countries. Rather, the aim is to bring more regional nations under one roof over time. He added that Egypt could join soon, once some technical details are settled.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan echoed this same message. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said the pact’s vision goes beyond three nations. He hopes that one day, all countries in the region will find common ground under this framework.

Under the defence pact, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye plan closer cooperation. This includes senior-level meetings, joint military drills and stronger defence industry ties. Turkiye’s defence ministry confirmed these details during a briefing.

At the briefing held on August 13 in Ankara, officials said the pact’s main goal is to build a stronger, long-term defence relationship. They explained that new mechanisms will bring together foreign ministers, defence ministers and top military commanders from all three countries.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. They exchanged views on recent regional developments and discussed efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

FM Fidan invited DPM/FM to attend… pic.twitter.com/HV6X23hyIy

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 19, 2026

The ministry also shared plans for joint exercises across land, sea and air forces. Officials said work on air defence systems and unmanned technology is also part of the plan. Deeper cooperation in defence manufacturing is expected to follow as well.

As the region faces ongoing uncertainty, this upcoming R-4 meeting reflects a shared effort by Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Leaders from these nations continue working toward stronger unity, security and long-term peace across the Middle East and South Asia.

With tensions still high following the war on Iran, this diplomatic outreach shows how regional powers are choosing dialogue and cooperation over division, setting the stage for deeper strategic ties in the weeks ahead.