ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are quietly but surely moving toward formalizing a new quadrilateral framework, as rapid developments in the Middle East push major regional players to coordinate more closely on diplomacy and security.
Although officials have not spoken of an alliance, the pace and frequency of engagements suggests the four-country forum is evolving into a structured group aimed at shaping outcomes in a volatile region.
The latest step took place on Tuesday, when senior officials from the four countries
met in Islamabad following earlier consultations between their foreign ministers.
The Pakistani delegation at the senior officials’ meeting was led by Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, Additional Foreign Secretary and Spokesperson. The Turkish side was led by Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya, Deputy Foreign Minister, Egypt was represented by Ambassador Nazih El Naggari, Deputy Foreign Minister, while the Saudi delegation was led by Prince Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud Al-Kabeer AlSaud, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting, organized by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, brought together senior diplomats to consolidate the proposals which will now be presented at the next foreign ministers’ meeting in Antalya on April 17, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
The consultations come against a backdrop of heightened regional instability, particularly the recent military escalation between Iran and the United States, which has upended diplomatic calculations and triggered urgent behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent further fallout.
The four countries met for the first time at the level of foreign ministers in Riyadh on March 19, at the height of tensions between Tehran and Washington. Just ten days later, they met again in Islamabad, emphasizing both the urgency and seriousness of the initiative.
Now, with another meeting planned in Antalya within days, officials say the momentum reflects a shared recognition that traditional diplomatic formats are no longer enough to respond to the Middle East’s rapidly evolving crises.
Diplomatic sources told The Express PK Press Club that the discussions focus on designing a cooperation framework focused on conflict de-escalation, economic coordination and political alignment on key regional issues.
“There is a clear convergence of views between the four capitals on the need for a coordinated approach,” one source said, adding that while the group’s structure is still being worked out, “it goes beyond ad hoc consultations.”
During their stay, the visiting delegations also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar, who stressed the importance of institutionalizing cooperation between what he described as “brotherly countries.”
Dar stressed that closer coordination could help advance common goals of peace, stability and economic development, particularly at a time of deepening geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
Analysts say the emerging quadrilateral reflects a pragmatic alignment rather than a formal bloc, driven by overlapping interests in regional stability, energy security and diplomatic leverage.
They caution, however, that the success of such a framework will depend on how effectively the four countries can reconcile their individual foreign policy priorities while maintaining a unified position on controversial issues.
