Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has departed for Istanbul after concluding an official visit to the United Kingdom, according to the Foreign Office.

Dar will hold official engagements in Turkiye ahead of the upcoming Regional 4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul.

Dar concludes UK visit

During his visit to the UK, Dar held meetings with several senior officials.

His engagements included talks with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

Dar also met International Maritime Organisation Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

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In addition, the deputy prime minister met British parliamentarians of Pakistani origin and interacted with members of the Pakistani diaspora.

Istanbul meeting to focus on regional issues

Dar’s visit to Turkiye comes ahead of the next meeting of the Regional 4 foreign ministers.

The grouping includes Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan invited Dar to attend the meeting earlier this month. Dar accepted the invitation and confirmed his participation.

The R-4 framework has focused on regional security and diplomatic coordination.

The group emerged in March amid efforts to support mediation between the United States and Iran.

R-4 countries maintain diplomatic coordination

The Istanbul meeting comes as negotiations remain stalled amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

The previous R-4 meeting took place in Cairo in June.

At that meeting, the four countries welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran.

The Foreign Office previously described the R-4 framework as a platform for consultation, cooperation and coordinated efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and prosperity.

The first ministerial meeting took place in Riyadh in March. The second followed in Islamabad later that month.

Dar’s participation in the Istanbul meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for the four countries to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts.