Two LPG vessels carrying more than 7,600 tonnes arrive at Port Qasim

— Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has pointed out the need for stepped up diplomatic efforts for reducing tensions in the region and promoting peace and stability during high level meetings involving eight countries in Turkiye.

The Istanbul meeting convened foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, known collectively as the R4 group, alongside counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Friday’s talks dealt with events in the Gulf area, their social and economic ramifications and the necessity for concerted diplomatic efforts to counter rising security threats. The talks come against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war against Iran and mounting concerns over regional stability and key international maritime lanes.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Dar informed his counterparts on Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic contacts and mediation efforts to reduce tensions, avert a resumption of hostilities and advance regional peace. The eight foreign ministers decided to continue consultations under the expanded meeting format.

Gulf Security Services

The Istanbul conference was the first between the R4 group and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK. The R4 group, which established in March, has concentrated on regional security and diplomatic mediation, especially work related to tensions between the United States and Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit route for world energy shipments, was significantly on the agenda. A spokesman for the British foreign minister, Ed Miliband, said he will press for a diplomatic solution to the problem, which would restore full navigational rights and freedoms.

The British side also raised worries about assaults on Saudi Arabia and the potential implications for other vital waterways including Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal. Any disruption near these maritime chokepoints could put further pressure on international shipping and trade.

France described the summit as a first in this manner, taking place in a context of great regional instability and uncertainty. The talks are intended to improve coordination between European and Middle Eastern states on problems that affect both areas, its foreign ministry said.

Turkiye was also likely to highlight the value of the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, as well as the need for diplomacy in dealing with the US-Iran dispute.

R4 reiterates backing for Saudi Arabia

Dar also joined the extended gathering and the sixth meeting of the R4 foreign ministers with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The four ministers discussed developments since their last meeting in New York in September, with particular emphasis on the Middle East, regional crises and related security challenges.