Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled from Islamabad to Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday to attend the Ishaq Dar R4+E3 meeting. The talks will bring together foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, the United Kingdom, France and Germany to discuss regional security and international developments.
The first meeting will involve the R4 group, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the participants will exchange views on major regional and global issues. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to explore diplomatic cooperation on shared challenges.
The R4 meeting will be followed by the first gathering in the R4+E3 format. The E3 group includes Britain, France and Germany, which have coordinated diplomatic efforts for more than two decades, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme. The expanded meeting aims to strengthen dialogue between the seven countries.
Discussions are expected to cover the situation in Palestine, developments in Yemen, maritime security and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The participants will also examine ways to prevent regional conflicts from escalating and promote peace and stability through coordinated diplomatic initiatives.
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Curtain Raiser: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s @MIshaqDar50 Participation in the R4 and R4+E3 Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, Istanbul, Türkiye (23 October 2026)
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 23, 2026
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host the talks, which Ankara initiated. A Turkish foreign ministry official said the meeting would explore practical opportunities for cooperation. Fidan is expected to emphasise regional responsibility for security and warn against conflicts spreading across borders or creating wider instability.
The talks will also address security concerns in the Black Sea, where attacks on commercial vessels have increased amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Türkiye has previously proposed measures to Moscow and Kyiv to stop the strikes. NATO has also announced additional aircraft, drones and radar systems to improve regional monitoring and information sharing.
During the visit, Dar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts. The Ishaq Dar R4+E3 meeting comes as participating countries seek closer coordination on regional challenges, including Palestinian issues, Saudi security and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The discussions are expected to explore diplomatic measures that could support regional stability.
