Pakistan Convenes Regional Summit in Islamabad as Mediator for De-escalation in Month-Long Iran War

Pakistan convenes foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on March 29 to discuss de-escalation of the month-old Iran war and a U.S. peace proposal.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 7:05 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Telegraph

Islamabad Emerges as a Diplomatic Neutral Zone

Pakistan is stepping into a critical role as a regional mediator, hosting a four-nation summit starting Sunday, March 29, to address the ongoing Iran war. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that the top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will join their Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, for "in-depth discussions" intended to curb the rising hostilities in West Asia. This diplomatic push comes exactly four weeks after the conflict was initiated by joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, which fundamentally altered the regional security landscape and triggered a global energy shock.

Strategic Vulnerabilities Drive Regional Cooperation

The choice of participants—Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt—reflects a coalition of nations most acutely affected by the instability. All three countries face significant threats to their energy supplies and maritime trade routes due to the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking ahead of the summit, emphasized the need for a "polycentric" solution to safeguard vital global corridors. Fidan noted that while the talks were originally slated for Turkey, the venue was shifted to Islamabad to accommodate Pakistani officials who are currently managing domestic energy and security crises linked to the neighboring conflict.

The U.S. 15-Point Proposal and the "Pakistan Channel"

Central to the upcoming talks is a 15-point peace proposal drafted by the Trump administration and conveyed to Tehran via Islamabad. The proposal reportedly demands the total dismantling of Iran's nuclear program and the transfer of its enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for partial sanctions relief. While Iranian officials have publicly dismissed the plan as "one-sided," there are indications of back-channel engagement. Sources suggest that Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has acted as a key interlocutor, leveraging military-to-military ties with Iran’s IRGC to keep communication lines open even as Operation Epic Fury continues.