A fresh diplomatic effort is taking shape as the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt gathered in Islamabad, marking the second high-level meeting in weeks aimed at containing the fallout from the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that both United States and Iran have shown trust in Islamabad to facilitate direct talks, with the country offering to host negotiations soon. The four agreed to form a joint committee to design a structured path toward dialogue and de-escalation.
This initiative, which began on the sidelines of consultations in Riyadh, has now evolved into a focused peace effort, with Pakistan acting as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran. Analysts view this as a rare, coordinated attempt by Muslim-majority countries to prevent further escalation.
However, the situation remains tense. Conflicting signals from Donald Trump—ranging from threats of military action to optimism about a deal—highlight the uncertainty surrounding the process. Meanwhile, continued military activity in the region complicates diplomacy.
Experts describe these efforts as “early but important steps,” warning that deep mistrust, opposing demands, and ongoing violence make a quick resolution unlikely despite growing international support, including from China and the United Nations.
