Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt on Sunday in Islamabad expressed their full support for Pakistan’s initiative to host peace talks between the United States and Iran.
ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Xinhua) — Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt on Sunday expressed full support in Islamabad for Pakistan’s initiative to host peace talks between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said in a televised message that participants agreed that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to lasting peace, and stressed the need to prevent further military escalation in the Middle East.
Mr. Dar said he had informed his counterparts about the possibility of holding possible talks between the United States and Iran, stressing that both sides had expressed confidence in Pakistan’s facilitating role.
He added that the meeting also resulted in the decision to establish a committee comprising senior officials from the four foreign ministries to strengthen their coordination and explore the possibility of closer cooperation among the participating countries.
The meeting focused on developments in the regional situation and efforts to defuse tensions and end ongoing clashes, Mr. Dar said, adding that the initiative received the full support of all participating countries.
The ministers expressed concern about the humanitarian and economic consequences of the ongoing hostilities, saying continued fighting would only worsen destruction and instability in the region, Dar said.
The foreign ministers visiting Pakistan reaffirmed their determination to support all efforts that would create conditions conducive to structured negotiations between the parties concerned, said the Pakistani Foreign Minister, who hosted the meeting.
