Pakistan summons Middle East envoys to discuss Syria

E-Paper | February 28, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has summoned its envoys from key Middle Eastern countries to meet in Islamabad on May 4 for urgent consultations over situation in Syria in particular and Middle East in general.

“Yes envoys from Middle East would meet in Islamabad on Sunday, May 4 to discuss situation in the Middle East and current issues concerning the region and Pakistan,” Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told Dawn.com on Saturday.

She said issues related to Pakistanis living in Middle East would also come under discussion.

Pakistan's envoys from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Yemen have been invited, the spokeswoman said.

Consul General in Jeddah and Consul General in Dubai – the two biggest Pakistani consulates in the Middle East – have also been invited to attend the conference.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz would address the opening session while several other key ministers are also expected to speak to the moot.

Recommendation made in the conference would be incorporated in Pakistan’s foreign policy.

It may be mentioned that significant changes in Pakistan's foreign policy including its reported tilt towards Saudi Arabia and Bahrain came under fire in both house of the Parliament – Senate and National Assembly – after visits by Saudi dignitaries and the Bahraini King in the last six months.

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independentthinker

May 03, 2014 10:01pm

Considering how Pakistan is viewed in the rest of the world - particularly in the Middle-East, do you honestly think this meeting would achieve anything? Unfortunately, the way our government has handled all the issues, related to domestic and foreign policies, our people are not welcomed in any part of the world. Red flags go up, as soon you present your Pakistani passport. Holding such meetings will not change the image of Pakistan. If you want to change the perception, you have to address the issues the country is going through. Presently, almost every Pakistani wishes he/she was not in Pakistan and the rest of the world is nervous. As long as that continues, these meetings will not be able to achieve anything. They will be - another unnecessary waste of time and taxpayers money.

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Wocka

May 03, 2014 10:15pm

@independentthinker: They summoned their own envoys from the Middle East. What's wrong with discussing the situation in that part of the world among your own officials, who are working there?

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imran bhatt

May 03, 2014 10:35pm

As 4G and 3G auction failed to collect desired amount of cash, now they are going to auction their armed forces to select group of buyers.

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Badar

May 03, 2014 10:36pm

@independentthinker: Whats the issue with you? Who are you and why are you so negative for no good reasons? What happened in Parliament after high profile royal visits was pure politics. It also left a very negative impression with two of Pakistan's best friends in the world. All countries invite opinion from their envoys as part of policy formulation and new strategic initiatives. Considering fast changing Middle Eastern situation, such a conference was necessary and the timing is perfect. These individuals shall provide quality input based on realities on the ground. A great step towards a consensus building.

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syed baqar ahsan

May 03, 2014 10:39pm

we are again heading for big catch of others

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Bast Ali

May 03, 2014 10:41pm

@Pakistan keep out of Syrian conflict, this is best interest.

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Qazi

May 03, 2014 10:55pm

how i read this news, 'envoys from middle east have been called to meet in Islamabad and they will be told to toe saudi arab's line in these countries'

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Shahryar Shirazi

May 03, 2014 11:18pm

Really ? Why ? What business we have in Syria ?

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Man from UNCLE

May 03, 2014 11:32pm

Pakistan summoned someone from middle east is like a panhandler jumps into your car and talks about the price of tea in China. We are seriously messed up. Who are these people, and do they even possess means to think.

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Man from UNCLE

May 03, 2014 11:32pm

Who is this woman in the picture. She is very homely.

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May 04, 2014 12:08am

Saudi Arabia is the biggest threat to Pakistan and Peace in the Middle East. We have to stay away from them like Indonesia and Turkey.

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SKY

May 04, 2014 12:46am

@AK .......haha... Nice joke

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irfan iftekhar

May 04, 2014 01:01am

What is this rubbish. Relations with this and that donor countries came under attack in parliament. Tell the parliament to give back all the money Saudi Arabia and UAE has invested in charity in Pakistan if they are so brave souls.

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HAHA

May 04, 2014 01:08am

The Prime Minister and his brother are enjoying in UK. We do not have a proper, full time foreign minister. What is the purpose of this junket? With whom will they hold the meeting?

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sami

May 04, 2014 01:22am

If you have even a tiny bit of self-respect left, a tiny bit of pragmatism in you, a tiny bit of patriotism, a tiny bit of foresight left in you, you would not get yourself tangled up, AGAIN, in politics of evil and you will find a way to help solve issues rather than becoming one. I believe this infatuation with Saudi Arabia could be a fatal attraction for Pakistan. STOP! In this drama where evil is being perpetuated don't get on the stage and become another bad actor. STOP! Or you are going to relegate Pakistan to the trash bin of history. STOP!

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SYED ZAFAR KAZMI

May 04, 2014 01:35am

@Shahryar Shirazi Our business in Syria would rid us of Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan as these terrorists would now be heading to Syria under agreements between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through the shuttle diplomacy that's been going for the last several months between the two brotherly governments.

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Safdar

May 04, 2014 01:50am

@Man from UNCLE yah she is the khala jaan from foreign office

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Safdar

May 04, 2014 01:54am

@SYED ZAFAR KAZMI this is why we protected our strategic assets for so long and which costed us few thousand lives (so what)...now I am pretty sure Beshar and Syrian army will do.what our army should have done a while ago

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K.A.Muhammad

May 04, 2014 05:47am

@independentthinker My dear friend do you really think and believe that Pakistani politicians do not know what you have said and written in your comments! The fact is that even these politicians as Pakistanis have no respect abroad. It is the overall general foreign interest that they serve gets them temporary elation. Pakistan's present mess is solely the result of misdeeds of Pakistani Politicians, therefore to them there is No Problems requiring solution. Thus they are out to solve and resolve problems of other countries; of course, at cost in its dual sense.

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MARK

May 04, 2014 06:47am

Conferences and suggestions are always welcome from abroad but a policy of a country should always reflect sentiments of its people. Pakistan should also include representatives from Lebanon and Palestine which are under direct fire from Israel? We deeply miss Z. A. Bhutto don't we.

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Mathew

May 04, 2014 06:54am

Iran will definitely use Syria as a show of strength and to show the regional countries that you are weak.Pakistan has nothing to do with Syia but in Internatioal politics things are related with each other.

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Zak

May 04, 2014 11:42am

Do not get involved in the Iran- Saudi tuga-war, at behest of Saudi. $ 1.5 billion does not last but enemy ties do.

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Tahir A

May 04, 2014 12:13pm

Oh dear. I wouldn't wanna be on the wrong side of madam.

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muhammad

May 05, 2014 09:09pm

Pakistan has already lots of un-resolved domestic issues on hand therefore it should refrain from meddling in the affairs of other countries

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independentthinker

May 05, 2014 11:37pm

@Badar I am not negative - but realistic! Shouldn't Pakistan be worrying about it's own affairs - don't we have enough on our plate, to worry about what is happening in the Middle East? And lastly, will anybody ever listen to us? Before we worry about Syria and other Middle East issues, just spend a minute and read your local news. By avoiding your own problems, they will not go away!

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independentthinker

May 06, 2014 08:08pm

@Wocka You ask me what's wrong? You mean what's wrong with spending thousands of dollars and so much time, in discussing matters that don't really matter to us and no matter what we agree upon, will not matter a bit towards the crisis. This time and money could be well spent looking after our own domestic issues - which unfortunately, we have no control on.

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