I just had the same problem with sprint calling South Africa. They charge over $3.50 a minute . I was calling my daughter while she and her husband were traveling there. The day I got the $200. phone bill I switched to MCI for the AA 20/20 partner and bought 125 minutes from Priceline for $40. dollars. When I taught school in Karachi 20 years ago we did not even have a phone. Probably best because I would have had a big phone bill as we taught school there for 2 years.
Try Priceline.