- Foreign Ministers Ishaq Dar and Badr Abdelatty Agree to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation and Maintain Four-Party Consultations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation and maintaining close coordination on regional developments, as both countries intensify diplomatic consultations aimed at promoting stability and reducing tensions across the region.
During a telephone conversation on Friday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed ways to further enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation, while reviewing the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore stability.
According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the two foreign ministers agreed to maintain close consultations, particularly through a four-party regional mechanism involving Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, which provides a platform for coordination on regional security and political developments.
Regional Security Cooperation in Focus
The conversation followed Abdelatty’s recent meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein. The discussions focused on regional developments and efforts to strengthen security coordination amid continuing geopolitical tensions.
The consultations also come as Egypt weighs its position on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
During a press conference in El-Alamein, Fidan encouraged Egypt to consider joining the agreement. Abdelatty, however, said Cairo would first need to carefully assess the pact’s legal and constitutional implications before reaching a decision.
Neither the Egyptian nor Pakistani foreign ministers publicly linked their latest discussions on defence cooperation and regional security directly to the Makkah agreement.
Four-Party Mechanism to Remain Key Platform
Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have also been coordinating through a four-party regional mechanism that brings senior officials together for consultations on political and security developments.
Dar and Abdelatty agreed to sustain close coordination in the coming period, including through this four-party framework, underscoring the importance both countries attach to collective diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
Expanding Bilateral Economic and Political Ties
Beyond regional security, the two foreign ministers reviewed the broader state of Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations and explored opportunities to expand cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment sectors.
The latest discussions reflect Islamabad and Cairo’s shared interest in deepening bilateral engagement while enhancing coordination on regional issues of mutual concern.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
