KEY POINTS
- Ishaq Dar held phone calls with foreign ministers of Iran, Egypt, and Azerbaijan on Gaza.
- Discussions focused on regional peace efforts and the upcoming Sharm el-Sheikh summit.
- Egypt’s FM invited Dar to attend Monday’s international summit.
- The summit will finalise the US-brokered Gaza peace agreement.
- World leaders, including US President Trump and President el-Sisi, will co-chair the summit.
- A Hamas official said a prisoner exchange with Israel could begin Monday.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a series of phone calls with his counterparts from Iran, Egypt, and Azerbaijan on Saturday and discussed the situation in the Middle East and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to exchange views on “recent regional developments, particularly in Gaza and Palestine.”
The two ministers discussed the joint efforts of Muslim countries to promote peace and stability in the region, and coordination ahead of the upcoming summit in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today held a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi.
The two ministers discussed recent regional developments, particularly in Gaza & Palestine.
They also… pic.twitter.com/B60OjcbG8i
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 11, 2025
Dar also held a separate conversation with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, during which the two sides discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing diplomatic initiatives by Arab and Islamic countries to secure lasting peace.
The talks, according to the Foreign Office, also focused on preparations for the forthcoming Sharm el-Sheikh summit.
“The two ministers also exchanged views on the broader efforts by Arab-Islamic countries to promote peace and stability in the region, as well as on the forthcoming summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt,” the Foreign Office stated.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today spoke with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov @Bayramov_Jeyhun.
They discussed the situation in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The two ministers also… pic.twitter.com/kE9rY4e96H
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 11, 2025
In another call, Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty to review the regional situation, including the latest developments in Gaza and Palestine.
Dr Abdelatty extended an official invitation to Dar to attend the international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, scheduled for Monday.
“The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly the developments in Gaza and Palestine. They also discussed regional diplomatic efforts and coordination ahead of the forthcoming Summit,” the Foreign Office stated.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty.
The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly the developments in Gaza and Palestine.
They… pic.twitter.com/uF4VjvSmCy
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 11, 2025
Sharm el-Sheikh Summit to Finalise Gaza Peace Deal
Diplomatic sources, cited by various international media outlets, stated that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit will mark the official signing of the Gaza peace agreement, bringing together leaders and foreign ministers from across the Arab and Western world.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Donald Trump.
The agreement, brokered by the United States, is set to end months of devastating conflict in Gaza and pave the way for large-scale humanitarian aid, prisoner exchanges, and reconstruction under international supervision.
According to diplomats, Egypt has invited senior representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia, among others.
The participation of these nations reflects what observers describe as “a growing international consensus on the need for sustained peace and stability in the region” after two years of war in Gaza.
Gaza Ceasefire Holds
A senior Hamas official, Mousa Abou Marzouq, said on Saturday that a prisoner exchange with Israel could begin as early as Monday — the first major step under the newly brokered ceasefire.
“The prisoner swap might start on Monday,” Marzouq said in a televised interview, adding that Hamas would not stage any public celebrations or militarised displays during the process.
The ceasefire, which took effect at noon local time (0900 GMT) on Friday, forms part of a 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump.
Documents released by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN indicate that Hamas must release all living Israeli captives within 72 hours of Israel ratifying the agreement.
Under the deal, Hamas is also required to share information on deceased captives through a joint mechanism involving Turkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Pakistan’s Call for Regional Unity
Pakistan has consistently advocated for a unified Muslim response to the crisis and the protection of Palestinian rights under international law.
The latest diplomatic outreach, analysts say, underscores Islamabad’s efforts to coordinate positions with regional partners ahead of what is being described as a historic moment in the Middle East peace process.
