Islamabad is preparing to host a quadrilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 30, to discuss regional developments, including the war in Iran, according to Pakistan’s official television.

This is the first meeting of its kind between the four countries since the outbreak of the war.

Pakistanis hold pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (AFP).

In an interview with the Turkish private television channel A Haber, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that there were initial plans to host these talks in Turkey.

Fidan said during the interview, "However, since our Pakistani brother was unable to leave his country, we moved the meeting to Pakistan."

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the current diplomatic round between the United States and Iran, having delivered a 15-point peace plan proposed by Washington to the Iranian side.

Last Thursday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that there are "indirect talks between the United States and Iran through messages conveyed by Pakistan."

The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Sharif that building trust is essential to facilitate talks and mediation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The office added that Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, and the two leaders discussed the ongoing military operations in the region and efforts to end the conflict during a call that lasted more than an hour.

The office also stated that Sharif updated Pezeshkian on Pakistan’s diplomatic communications with the United States and Gulf countries.