ISLAMABAD: The Regional Four (R4) group of Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt has strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, expressing their full solidarity with the Government of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt (R4 Group) met on Friday in Istanbul to discuss regional issues of mutual concern.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the sixth R4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday.
The R4 Group foreign ministers condemned in the strongest terms the unacceptable escalation by the Houthi militia, which has deepened humanitarian suffering. The foreign ministers strongly condemned the continued strikes carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the attacks carried out against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb, according to the Joint Statement on the R4 Ministerial Meeting.
🔊 PR No. 3️⃣0️⃣5️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Joint Statement on the R4 Ministerial Meeting (Istanbul, 23 October 2026) 🔗⬇️ https://t.co/FnDl86yDoN
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 23, 2026
The R4 Group countries expressed their full solidarity with the Government of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and called on the Houthi militia to immediately cease all military actions, threats and attacks, and to return to the political process in good faith, according to the Joint Statement.
The four countries reaffirmed their commitment to contribute to diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond, in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, the Joint Statement said.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 participated in the 6th R4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul today, alongside H.E. Hakan Fidan of Türkiye, H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, and H.E. Dr. Badr Abdelatty of Egypt.
The Ministers reviewed regional developments since their last meeting in New York, with particular focus on the situation in the Middle East and related security challenges/ conflicts.
The Ministers expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed their support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also condemned the Houthi attacks targeting the Kingdom and underscored the importance of respecting state sovereignty.
They discussed ways to strengthen regional coordination and advance diplomatic efforts to promote lasting peace, security, and stability.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 23, 2026
R4 Group Expresses Support for Islamabad MoU
Concerning the military conflict between the US, Israel and Iran as well as around the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministers underlined the urgent need to address the conflict only through dialogue and diplomacy as well as to prevent the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructures, including vessels, according to the Joint Statement.
The R4 Group foreign ministers expressed support for the Islamabad MoU signed between the US and Iran in June and welcomed continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. They reaffirmed their commitment to a lasting negotiated solution, according to the Joint Statement.
Freedom of Navigation and Maritime Security
The foreign ministers underscored the vital importance of freedom of navigation, permanent maritime safety and security, and safeguarding navigational rights and freedoms. They noted that disruption of sea lanes threatens the security and prosperity of all, through blocking global supply chains, flows of energy, fertiliser and food, impacting vulnerable populations in the region and beyond, and thus, requires collective efforts by the international community to address these challenges, according to the Joint Statement.
The R4 Group foreign ministers also rejected any measures or restrictions that impair lawful navigation and called for the swift and full resumption of safe, secure and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Early Implementation of Two-State Solution
The foreign ministers underscored that the Israeli occupation constitutes the fundamental source of instability in the region and beyond, and that Israeli policies create a deep sense of injustice in global public opinion. They called for the early implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
They reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions in order to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, according to the Joint Statement.
The ministers called for an urgent end to the ongoing Israeli violence, as well as attempts to change the legal and historical status of Jerusalem, and to bring an end to further destruction and humanitarian tragedy in Palestine.
They condemned all the previous and current settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as the settler violence against Palestinians. They underlined the urgent need for uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza.
The foreign ministers agreed to maintain close consultation and coordination on the aforementioned matters.
R4 Group, European Powers Stress Dialogue for Peace in Gulf
Later, foreign ministers of the Regional Four (R4) Group and their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom discussed developments in the Gulf region and their social and economic impacts at their first joint meeting in Istanbul, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 participated today in the first meeting in Istanbul with the Foreign Ministers of the R4 (Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt), along with their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The meeting provided an opportunity for exchange of views on regional developments in the Gulf region, their social and economic impacts, and the urgent need to foster diplomatic engagement to resolve regional challenges of peace, security, and stability.
The DPM/FM briefed his counterparts on the diplomatic and mediatory role Pakistan continues to play in de-escalating tensions, preventing resumption of hostilities and promoting peace.
All Ministers agreed for continued engagement in this format.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 23, 2026
The meeting provided an opportunity for exchange of views on regional developments in the Gulf region, their social and economic impacts, and the urgent need to foster diplomatic engagement to resolve regional challenges of peace, security, and stability, the Foreign Ministry said.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Dar participated in the first meeting between the R4 and France, Germany, Italy and the UK in Istanbul.
Deputy Prime Minister Dar briefed his counterparts on Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions, prevent a resumption of hostilities and promote peace, the Foreign Ministry said.
All the foreign ministers agreed for continued engagement in this format, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
