FM Dar heads to Istanbul after UK visit ahead of R4 meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed London for Istanbul on Sunday to engage in official duties, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). His visit to Turkey precedes the scheduled Regional Four Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the city. During a recent trip to the United Kingdom, Dar met with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for delegation-level discussions.

This engagement holds particular significance due to Pakistan's growing diplomatic influence on regional and international fronts. The MoFA reported that the visit aimed to translate recent diplomatic efforts into enhanced relations with major powers. Upon arriving in Istanbul, Dar is scheduled to participate in a series of official engagements, including interactions with Pakistani-origin British parliamentarians and the Pakistani community in the UK.

The Regional Four, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, is set to convene for another round of high-level consultations in Istanbul this month. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey recently signed a landmark defense agreement in Makkah, committing to collective defense and increased military coordination. Egypt's potential participation in the defense pact has been a subject of discussion, given its strategic importance in the region.

The upcoming meeting of the four foreign ministers in Istanbul marks the first major R-4 engagement since the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, providing an opportunity to assess Egypt's potential role in the evolving regional security architecture.