Islamabad Hosts Key Muslim Powers as Urgent Talks Aim to Prevent Wider Middle East War

Islamabad: Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan are set to convene in Islamabad for high-level talks focused on defusing escalating tensions stemming from the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran amid growing fears of a broader regional war.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty will join Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for two days of “in-depth discussions” on March 29 and 30. The talks will center on coordinated diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

The visiting dignitaries are also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has intensified diplomatic outreach in recent days. On Saturday, Sharif held a one-hour phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to engaging global and regional stakeholders, including the United States and key Gulf nations, to encourage dialogue and restraint.

Islamabad’s initiative signals a growing urgency among major Muslim countries to prevent the conflict from spiraling further. Analysts warn that continued escalation risks drawing in additional regional and international actors, increasing the likelihood of a wider confrontation with global consequences.

Former Pakistani National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf cautioned that the situation is approaching a critical tipping point. In a public statement, he warned that without a diplomatic breakthrough in the coming days, the conflict could evolve into a large-scale international crisis resembling a world war in scope and impact.

As tensions remain high, the Islamabad meeting is being closely watched as a potential platform for coordinated mediation efforts, with participating countries expected to push for an immediate reduction in hostilities and a renewed focus on diplomatic solutions.