Ishaq Dar departs for Istanbul for first-ever R4-E3 foreign ministers’ meeting
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed for Istanbul on Friday morning to attend the first-ever joint meeting of the R4 and E3 foreign ministers, a new seven-country diplomatic format convened at Turkiye’s initiative. The Ishaq Dar Istanbul meeting puts Pakistan at the table with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on one side and Britain, France and Germany on the other.
Dar is travelling at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Foreign Office issued a curtain raiser (PR No. 303/2026) confirming his participation in both the R4 foreign ministers’ meeting and the inaugural R4-E3 session later in the day.
The R4 grouping brings together Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The E3 comprises the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Friday’s combined session is the first time the seven countries have met in this format.
What the Ishaq Dar Istanbul meeting will cover
The agenda is dominated by the crises threatening shipping and regional security. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the ministers will discuss the Palestinian issue, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments related to Yemen, and diplomatic avenues to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The talks come as tensions across the Middle East run high. Houthi drone and missile strikes on Saudi commercial infrastructure, US-Iran maritime confrontations in the Persian Gulf, and attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea have all multiplied in recent weeks.
Fidan is expected to argue that regional security requires the countries directly affected by conflicts to take greater responsibility. He will warn against letting existing disputes feed new crises, and is expected to press for stronger international pressure on Israel over settlement expansion while underlining Turkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security.
On the sidelines, Dar will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Ankara, Riyadh and Cairo to review trade corridors and defence cooperation. The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s participation reflected its “continued commitment to constructive diplomacy, regional cooperation and the peaceful resolution of disputes”.
Why the R4 format matters for Pakistan
The R4 is a new consultative framework formed this year. Its members are Egypt plus the signatories of the Mecca Defence Agreement, a mutual defence pact established by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August. The grouping has already held consultative rounds in Cairo and Amman focused on security flashpoints and energy stability.
The E3, by contrast, is more than two decades old. Britain, France and Germany set it up to coordinate diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme. Bringing the two groups together creates an unprecedented diplomatic channel spanning Europe, the Middle East and South Asia.
For Pakistan, the stakes are direct. The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb are the chokepoints through which Pakistan’s oil imports flow, and both are on the agenda (Pakistan has already felt the fallout, with US warnings of imminent action over Hormuz shipping). Islamabad has also been managing the trade impact of the regional confrontation (Pakistan suspended the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan trade corridors with Iran earlier this month) and issued advisories for pilgrims travelling to Iran and Iraq (the Zaireen advisory remains in effect).
The meeting also builds on Pakistan’s recent regional diplomacy, including the expanded security partnership agreed with Qatar and the Makkah alliance framework with Saudi Arabia.
Sources: Dawn reported Dar’s departure for Istanbul, Tribune previewed the R4-E3 format, and Dunya News confirmed the Foreign Office curtain raiser.
FAQ
What is the R4-E3 meeting in Istanbul?
It is the first joint meeting of the R4 (Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) and the E3 (Britain, France, Germany) foreign ministers, hosted by Turkish FM Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on October 23, 2026.
Why is Ishaq Dar attending?
Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is attending at Fidan’s invitation. Pakistan is a founding member of the R4 grouping, which grew out of the Mecca Defence Agreement signed in August.
What is on the agenda?
The Palestinian issue, the Strait of Hormuz, developments in Yemen, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
