Islamabad: The Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud has arrived in Islamabad, Sunday afternoon for high level consultations with fellow Foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt and the host Pakistan. He was received by Additional Secretary (Middle East) Syed Ahmad Maroof upon arrival.
During the visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister is expected to hold consultations on key regional developments and matters of mutual interest. The visit underscores the longstanding and close brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as their continued coordination on regional and international issues, a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
It may be added that earlier the weekend was planned to be a rendezvous between the US and Iranian officials over the much talked about negotiations as revealed by the President of the US Donald Trump in the start of the week. However escalation in attacks from either side on each other installations, made it extremely difficult for either sides; Iranians or the Americans to meet in Islamabad towards the weekend.
In place of that failed meeting, the foreign office convened a two-day quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and Pakistan which is likely to deliberate upon a variety of issues, including efforts to reduce the ongoing tensions in the region amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Islamabad has emerged as a key facilitator between Iran and the United States as their war drags on, serving as an intermediary for messages between the two sides. The meeting comes amid efforts to open a window for diplomacy to end over a month-long war between the US, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28 and has affected the broader Middle East. In this regard, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Islamabad a day earlier on an official visit.
