A high-level quadrilateral meeting held between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt in Islamabad on 29 March, 2026, shows a concerted regional effort to prevent the month-long conflict from spiraling into a global crisis. The Islamic Quad, which first convened in Riyadh earlier this month, aims in achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement. The coalition for peace issued a collective warning regarding the devastating impact of the hostilities, emphasizing that this war offers nothing but death and destruction.
While the diplomatic momentum is building, the road to negotiations is a herculean task. Moreover, Pakistan’s deputy Prime minister is scheduled to travel to Beijing on March 31 to coordinate with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Beijing has already endorsed Pakistan’s key role in mediation efforts, signaling a potent Pak-China partnership in steering the US and Iran towards rapprochement.
As Islamabad is also the expected venue for dialogue between conflicting parties, yet the senior diplomatic sources caution that a firm timeline for direct talks has not been streamlined. The feasibility of a meeting is also directly linked with the continuous strikes and counter strikes, with communication between Washington and Tehran still restricted to indirect diplomacy.
The central pillar of the Quadrilateral meeting was the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies. There are numerous proposals to ensure safe maritime navigation, as Pakistan has already negotiated with Iran to allow 20 additional Pakistan-flagged vessels to transit the narrow strip, which is a tangible sign that diplomacy may be yielding small but crucial concessions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while meeting with the Islamic Quad ministers, reiterated that the unity of Muslim Ummah is essential to stabilizing the region. Although the situation on the ground is volatile, yet the convergence of regional powers and international backers like China has created a narrow but significant opening for peace.
