Dar, Egyptian FM Condemn Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirming their full solidarity with the Kingdom and support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
The Foreign Office (FO) said the two leaders also discussed the next meeting of the R-4 grouping, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, during a telephone conversation on Sunday.
“The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments,” the ministry said in a post on X. Both looked forward to holding the next R-4 meeting soon to “further strengthen mutual ties and to coordinate on the regional issues.”
The R-4 framework
According to the FO, the R-4 framework brings together Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to strengthen ties and coordinate on regional issues.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt held the latest round of high-level consultations in Istanbul late last month, as Islamabad stepped up diplomatic coordination with key regional powers after the signing of a landmark defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The four countries have been coordinating under the R-4 framework, launched earlier this year to intensify consultations on regional crises, particularly the conflict involving the United States and Iran and broader efforts to promote regional stability.
The foreign ministers of the four countries also met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22 to discuss regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.
Dar, Egypt FM condemn Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia: why this call matters now
The Dar-Abdelatty call is not routine diplomacy. It comes as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalated sharply in October, with missile and drone strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, killing and injuring civilians and disrupting air traffic.
An attack on Riyadh’s airport on October 10 killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, the deadliest strike on the kingdom in over a decade. PIA suspended its Riyadh flights after the strikes, bringing the crisis directly home to Pakistani travellers and the large Pakistani community in the kingdom.
That is the backdrop the two foreign ministers were reading from: a regional security shock that has already touched Pakistani citizens, a new four-country coordination framework being tested, and an upcoming R-4 meeting where the response will be shaped.
The Makkah defence agreement context
The Istanbul consultations carry added weight because they will be the first major R-4 engagement since Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
The agreement commits the three countries to collective defence, with an armed attack against one member treated as an attack against all. Pakistan and Türkiye have stressed that the pact is defensive in nature and is not directed against any particular country. It also envisages deeper military coordination, joint exercises and cooperation in defence technology.
Egypt’s potential participation had emerged as an important question in the run-up to the Makkah agreement. Turkish officials had indicated that Cairo could eventually join the new defence arrangement, given its military weight and strategic importance in the region. However, Egypt did not become a signatory when the pact was concluded in Makkah.
Sunday’s phone call, with the two ministers looking ahead to the next R-4 meeting, keeps that door open.
FAQ
What did Dar and the Egyptian FM discuss?
The two foreign ministers condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirmed solidarity with the kingdom, and discussed the next meeting of the R-4 grouping of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.
What is the R-4 framework?
A coordination framework launched earlier this year by Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia for consultations on regional crises, particularly the US-Iran conflict and regional stability efforts.
Why are Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalating now?
Attacks escalated in October with missile and drone strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport. An October 10 strike on Riyadh airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300.
What is the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement?
Signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, it commits the three countries to collective defence, treating an armed attack on one as an attack on all.
