As the world waits with bated breath for the outcome of the extremely crucial negotiations between the United States and Iran to reach a peace agreement, Pakistan has good reason to rejoice in the fact that it not only played a leading role in brokering a two-week ceasefire, but is now hosting historic talks.
This is a great diplomatic triumph that allows ordinary Pakistanis to feel proud of what their government has achieved through its creative diplomacy in such dangerous circumstances. The war in Iran had pushed the world to the brink of catastrophic disaster when, literally at the eleventh hour, the ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump.
The way he expressed it is a resounding proof of the role Pakistan played at a historic moment. President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan in which they asked me to suspend the destructive force sent to Iran this evening…I agree to suspend the bombing and attacks against Iran for a period of two weeks.”
And now Pakistan is hosting the talks in Islamabad. This means that the most urgent talks at this moment in history will be reported around the world with the Islamabad deadline. Pakistan, in this sense, is at the center of the world. It is true that the main focus will remain on the proceedings of a difficult encounter between the United States and Iran, but a little diversion should be possible to highlight the glory that belongs to Pakistan.
For Pakistan, becoming a mediator in this conflict would be an impossible task, given the antagonistic relations between America and Iran on one level and between regional countries on another. There will surely be many interesting details on how Pakistan rose to this challenge and, as it were, found its place in the sun.
For many of us, Pakistan’s diplomatic performance in brokering a ceasefire and hosting talks is an eye-opener. It sparks a feeling of joy and pride that we aren’t really used to. Normally, Pakistan’s projection in the world is rarely positive. Our social development indicators are consistently depressing. We are not doing well in our economic and social sectors. In many other respects, we lag behind other countries in the region.
In the midst of all these deficits, we have this gift of a diplomatic success linked to a world event of historic importance. It is also gratifying that Pakistan has achieved this prominence through hard work and a strong sense of purpose. It’s easy to see that this was a very, very difficult mission. The war in Iran portends a global conflict, with unforeseen consequences.
On Wednesday, the New York Times published this lengthy article reporting on the “rush to a ceasefire,” titled: “36 Hours of Chaos.” Tuesday, mid-afternoon in Washington, “an encouraging message on an agreement taking shape was examined by the White House and published on social networks by the Pakistani Prime Minister.”
There is another reference to Pakistan’s participation in ceasefire negotiations. “Shortly after 5 p.m., Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, called Mr. Trump to discuss the contours of the ceasefire agreement. Mr. Munir told the president that the Iranians had accepted Pakistan’s proposal.”
There is a long list of world leaders who have praised Pakistan’s courageous diplomacy. Even if this ceasefire is very fragile and apprehensions remain about the progress of the negotiations, this first step towards peace was taken less than two hours before the deadline given by President Trump to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Otherwise, “an entire civilization will die tonight.” That the leader of the most powerful country could make such a threat is something the world finds difficult to understand.
Regardless, the talks are currently taking place in Islamabad against the backdrop of Israel’s heaviest bombardment of Lebanon, even though Pakistan and Iran have maintained that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire deal. President Trump argued that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was a separate issue. Another source of tension is Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.
By securing a two-week ceasefire, Pakistan opened the possibility of lasting peace in the Middle East. Some observers say it would not be easy to reach a final agreement to resolve all the differences between America and Iran. At the same time, the very idea of a resumption of war is forbidding. Yet some speak of a ceasefire as a calm before a bigger storm.
With the ceasefire in place, it is also time to reflect on a number of questions. The first, of course, is whether this ceasefire will hold. In other words, what next? Since the war was started, without any justification, by the United States and Israel, the right question is whether they achieved any of their goals.
In another context, President Trump is in the spotlight for his actions and statements. He wanted to return Iran to the Stone Age and wipe out its civilization overnight. One question that seems valid is whether he personifies the beginning of the decline of the American empire. Does the war in Iran mark the decline of American power in the world?
Some hope that the Islamabad talks will be successful. Perhaps it lies in the fact that America has repeatedly declared victory without specifying the goals it has achieved. Overall, military experts believe America has suffered a huge strategic setback. Iran, on the other hand, is considered strategically stronger.
We will have to see how these perceptions are reflected in the positions taken by America and Iran in Islamabad. Will peace prevail?
The writer is a seasoned journalist. He can be reached at: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies of PK Press Club.tv.
