Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: After the Shia-dominated Iran ‘rejected’ Pakistan’s attempt to become a mediator in the ongoing war with the US-Israel duo, Islamabad has reportedly invited three pro-US Sunni nations in a bid to de-escalate tensions in West Asia, the media reported on Saturday.
According to reports, Pakistan has invited foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye for discussions on a wide range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia amid the war against Iran, the Foreign Office was quoted as saying in Islamabad.
However, confusion persists as to whether any such meeting will take place after all. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi did not categorically confirm any chances of face-to-face talks in Islamabad over the coming weekend.
He only said that Pakistan has “remained actively and constructively engaged with relevant regional stakeholders and beyond our region, consistently advocating for immediate de-escalation, cessation of hostilities and an irreversible path towards a peaceful resolution.”
The reports said that, at the invitation of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, will visit Islamabad on Sunday and Monday (March 29 and 30), the Foreign Office said.
Interestingly, after Iran, which is peeved at Pakisitan’s distinct tilt towards the US and Saudi Arabia, ‘turned down’ the invite this week, Dar had admitted that Pakistan was only a dakiya (postman) between the US and Iran. Tehran had also said Islamabad was only a messenger.
To salvage its image, when Saudi Arabia is pressing Pakistan to join the conflict against Iran, Islamabad is trying to unite at least Sunni nations which may, of course, enrage Iran.
The foreign ministers, who will hold “in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region”, will also meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan “highly values its relations with the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt, and the visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan’s cooperation and coordination with these countries.”
Geo News reported that the meeting was earlier scheduled to be held in Turkiye but due to Dar’s ‘engagement,’ he requested the leaders to come to Islamabad.
“The meeting was scheduled to be held in Turkiye but due to my engagement, I requested my brothers to instead meet in Islamabad tomorrow (Sunday),” Dar was quoted as saying.
He said that Pakistan is working with “honesty and sincerity” to resolve ongoing disputes.
Dar said that talks with Iran are ‘continuing,’ but due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, officials are refraining from making public statements.
Pakistan on Thursday said that it was “actively and constructively engaged” with all stakeholders in the region and beyond to peacefully end the Iran war.
It also confirmed relaying messages between the US and Iran, saying dialogue and diplomacy were the only way forward to end the West Asian conflict.