PAKISTAN and like-minded friendly countries are trying their best to bring the ongoing war to an end but prospects are not good as none of the warring parties is willing to show the necessary flexibility to enable the peace process to succeed.
The extreme positions adopted by the two sides could lead to catastrophic consequences if the United States implemented its threat of destroying bridges and energy infrastructure in Iran as Tehran too has vowed to respond by targeting American and Israeli interests in the region as well as oil installations and desalination plants of the regional countries, which could give the war a new but lethal dimension.
Civil and military leadership of Pakistan deserve full marks for leaving no stone unturned for the sake of peace but the process has apparently been made hostage by egoism, mistrust and apprehensions. The two-staged peace proposal shared by Pakistan with Iran and the United States had a win-win option for both sides as the temporary ceasefire would put a full-stop to the process of destruction and loss of precious lives while simultaneous reopening of Strait of Hormuz would satisfy the injured ego of Washington besides providing huge relief to the world economy. The second stage envisaged finalization of a broader and permanent settlement including Iranian commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons programme in exchange for sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets. However, buoyed by its ability to maintain an effective grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has reportedly rejected the otherwise plausible plan and put forward its own counter proposal focusing on a permanent end to the war, which has been rejected by President Trump describing it as significant but not good enough. There are reports that mediators are also exploring confidence-building measures, including partial steps by Iran on Hormuz access and uranium, while seeking assurances from Washington that any ceasefire would not be temporary. Iranian officials have conveyed concerns about entering a ceasefire arrangement similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon, where hostilities resumed despite formal agreements. At the same time, mediators are working on potential US measures to address Iranian demands and build trust between the parties.
However, both the US and Israel are not showing any restraint as evident from attacks on petro-chemical plants in Iran and targeting of the country’s intelligence chief during the course of indirect talks. The Iranian demands like an end to aggression in Lebanon and Gaza; support for reconstruction and a new framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz might be legitimate but legitimacy alone is not enough in a world where even the United Nations has become irrelevant. In this backdrop, mediators are stressing to Tehran that the short time presents a critical window to reach a deal and avoid widespread destruction. The continuation of the conflict also has serious repercussions for the United States and Israel as well. No doubt, their air superiority will make things worse for Iran but they will squarely be held responsible for destruction of economic assets of Gulf countries, which Washington was supposed to protect. This will constitute a serious dent to the credibility and prestige of the United States besides permanent loss of its role in any framework for use of Strait of Hormuz. It is encouraging that despite heavy odds, Pakistan is continuing its diplomatic push to seek an end to the war. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday discussed the evolving regional developments with the key foreign leaders, stressing on the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. As the entire world is feeling the heat of the war, it is but natural that all peace-loving countries should respond to the call of Pakistan for collective efforts for a ceasefire.
