PAKISTAN emerged as a key diplomatic mediator in brokering a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
This marked a significant proactive role in de-escalating a major regional conflict that threatened global stability. By leveraging its unique position as a neighbour to Iran, while maintaining strong ties with both Tehran and Washington, Islamabad facilitated back-channel diplomacy to halt hostilities. It will not be an overstatement to say that Pakistan successfully achieved a diplomatic miracle of the present era.
This became possible through Pakistan’s central role in negotiating a 14-day ceasefire to prevent further escalation after an intense conflict. The Prime Minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir remained personally involved, working tirelessly for the restoration of lasting peace in the region. In the fog of war, it was Pakistan that convinced the stakeholders that prolonged regional chaos would only benefit Israel by weakening its adversaries and shifting attention away from its own vulnerabilities.
Advocates of escalation should consider the likely endgame. Regime collapse in Iran would lead to chaos, the rise of militias and decades of instability, as witnessed in Iraq. Nuclear escalation would be catastrophic, violating international norms and triggering unpredictable retaliation. History shows that wars ultimately end through negotiations. A negotiated framework addressing the core concerns of all sides can lead to lasting stability.
Pakistan’s mediation eventually prevailed and resulted in regional stability in the form of a timed ceasefire. Due to the absence of direct diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, Pakistan has historically represented Iranian interests in Washington. This position enabled Pakistan to effectively pass messages and bridge the gap between the two sides. The intervention helped avert a potential catastrophe, with analysts describing it as one of Pakistan’s biggest diplomatic achievements in recent years.
The mediation addressed a crisis that had prompted US threats of severe action against Iran and had already caused casualties in the region. As a direct neighbour, Pakistan has a vested interest in stability and seeks to avoid conflict on its border that could further threaten energy supplies and regional security. Pakistan is now set to host high-level delegations from both the United States and Iran in Islamabad to negotiate a more permanent settlement following the initial truce. Pakistan’s efforts received recognition from both sides. Iranian officials expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts to end the war, while US officials acknowledged the important role played by Pakistan’s leadership. The mediation effort, which also involved coordination with China and other regional players, successfully resulted in a pause in fighting and provided a much-needed opportunity for diplomatic dialogue to prevail over armed conflict.
The success of this mediation has drawn widespread international praise. UNO Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, expressed “sincere appreciation” for Pakistan’s efforts. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, along with leaders from Malaysia and Germany, praised Islamabad’s “tireless and courageous diplomacy.” Both US President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly credited the Pakistani leadership for its central role in halting the hostilities.
The exemplary synergy between Pakistan’s civil and military leadership played a key role in convincing the warring sides to restore peace through negotiations. This diplomatic credibility should also be taken into consideration by the world when assessing the genuineness of Pakistan’s stance on cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad
