Prime Minister Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir and US President Donald Trump at the White House Photo: PMO X account
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has emerged as a key player seeking to end the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, with Islamabad quietly positioned as a potential venue for negotiations between Tehran and Washington, according to U.S. media and officials familiar with the developments.
The diplomatic opening came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary cessation of hostilities, citing what he described as “constructive engagement” with Iran. In the immediate aftermath, reports suggested that Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt had stepped up efforts to facilitate indirect messaging between the two adversaries.
According to Axios, Islamabad is being considered for possible negotiations involving a US delegation that could include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside senior Iranian leaders, potentially including the speaker of Parliament.
Tehran, however, has publicly rejected any suggestion of direct or indirect negotiations with Washington.
Yet diplomatic activity over the past 24 hours indicates a flurry of behind-the-scenes engagements suggesting otherwise.
Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership remained actively engaged with key stakeholders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirming solidarity with Iran while calling for restraint and dialogue.
According to an official statement, the Prime Minister extended his Eidul Fitr and Nowruz greetings to the leaders and people of Iran, while expressing condolences over the loss of lives in the ongoing conflict. He warned of the “dangerous” trajectory of hostilities in the Gulf and stressed the urgent need for collective efforts to defuse tensions through diplomacy.
Above all, he stressed the need for unity within the Muslim world, emphasizing that cohesion within the Umma was “more critical than ever” in the context of the ongoing crisis.
Sharing details of Pakistan’s diplomatic moves, Shehbaz assured Tehran that Islamabad would continue to play a constructive role in facilitating peace and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, the country’s military leaders also engaged Washington. A Financial Times report said Field Marshal and Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir held a telephone conversation with President Trump to discuss the developing situation.
Diplomatic sources said the contacts reflected Pakistan’s attempt to leverage its unique ties with Tehran and Washington to create space for dialogue.
At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conducted hectic diplomatic activities, speaking separately to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
During both conversations, Dar highlighted the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace, security and stability in the region and beyond, with all parties agreeing to remain in close contact.
These parallel engagements, also involving Turkey and Egypt, demonstrate a coordinated but still nascent mediation effort, largely focused on indirect messaging rather than a formal negotiation process.
While there has been no official confirmation from Islamabad about hosting the talks, sources have not ruled out the possibility, suggesting that Pakistan is willing to provide a neutral venue if necessary.
Analysts warn, however, that despite the diplomatic turmoil, prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain given the deep distrust between Washington and Tehran and rapidly changing battlefield dynamics.
Nonetheless, Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy underscores its attempt to position itself as a bridge, maintaining solidarity with Iran as a neighbor while preserving its strategic ties with the United States and its key Gulf partners.
Since the start of the war, Pakistan has found itself on a diplomatic tightrope to manage the situation.
Pakistan wants to avoid direct involvement in the conflict despite a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia.
This is why he advocates dialogue and diplomacy.
Sources said if Pakistan’s efforts were successful, it would be a major diplomatic coup.
