Key facts
- Pakistan and Egypt discussed escalating regional attacks, particularly in the Middle East.
- The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Egypt emphasized the need for close consultations within a four-nation regional forum (R4) that includes Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
- The ministers agreed to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
- The call took place amid renewed US-Iran fighting and Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.
- Iran reported launching ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan and targeting ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Houthi forces launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities and energy facilities, injuring 73 people.
Pakistan and Egypt have called for enhanced regional consultations, including through a four-nation forum comprising Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, as escalating attacks in the Middle East raise fears of a wider conflict. The discussions between Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty occurred amid renewed US-Iran hostilities and Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities.
During their phone call, Dar and Abdelatty reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional developments, emphasizing the need for close consultations within the "Regional Four" (R4) framework. This grouping, which also includes Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, was established in March to coordinate responses to the Iran war and broader regional security concerns. The ministers agreed to meet again on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
The call followed reports of Iran launching ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan and targeting ships near the Strait of Hormuz, in response to US strikes on Iranian oil tankers. Concurrently, Iran-backed Houthi forces attacked Saudi cities and energy facilities, resulting in 73 injuries. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan is bound by the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement and would honor its commitments if Saudi Arabia faced aggression.
The R4 forum has previously welcomed diplomatic efforts, including an Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding brokered by Pakistan to help the US and Iran resolve differences. Pakistan has continued to pursue these de-escalation efforts despite renewed hostilities, with officials indicating that indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran remain open.
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