Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had a brief, awkward slip on Sunday while greeting Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Islamabad, momentarily losing his balance before being helped up by officials nearby. The incident took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where staff and security personnel quickly stepped in to assist him. Authorities later confirmed he was unhurt, and the meeting continued as scheduled without disruption.
A video of the brief fall has since surfaced on social media, showing Dar losing balance during the formal meeting.
QUADRILATERAL MEET FOCUSES ON DE-ESCALATION
The incident occurred against the backdrop of a crucial quadrilateral meeting hosted by Pakistan, involving the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. The gathering is being seen as part of Islamabad’s broader push to position itself as a mediator in the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
The talks are centred on easing tensions and finding a way to get Washington and Tehran talking again. Even though neither the US nor Iran is formally part of the meeting, diplomats see this as an early step that could eventually open the door to direct negotiations.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has been working quietly in the background. It has helped pass on a 15-point proposal from the United States to Iran through backchannels, keeping some level of communication going despite both sides holding firm in public.
ISLAMABAD INTENSIFIES DIPLOMATIC PUSH
Islamabad has intensified its diplomatic engagement in recent weeks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been in contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while officials have engaged multiple regional players in an effort to create space for negotiations.
The quadrilateral format itself is being seen as a stepping stone towards wider talks. Foreign ministers attending the meeting are expected to align positions and build consensus before any direct engagement between the US and Iran takes place.
There is also growing speculation that indirect participants linked to US-Iran diplomacy may be involved in the broader process, though no formal confirmation has been issued so far.
Even with all these efforts, the path ahead is far from smooth. Iran has made it clear it does not fully trust the US proposals, accusing Washington of making “unreasonable demands” while continuing actions that, in its view, weaken any chance of real trust.
On the other side, the US is said to have put forward a detailed plan to reduce tensions, including conditions tied to Iran’s nuclear programme and its role in the region. For now, it remains unclear whether both sides are willing — or able — to meet somewhere in the middle.
