At a time when wars dominate headlines and diplomacy increasingly appears powerless, any breakthrough that prevents a major regional conflict deserves global recognition. Reports of a US-Iran peace understanding, facilitated in part by Pakistan’s quiet diplomacy and supported by regional partners, have generated optimism across an increasingly fractured world.

If these reports are indeed reflective of the full picture, Pakistan may have achieved what many larger powers could not: opening channels of communication between two bitter adversaries whose hostility has shaped the geopolitics of the Middle East for more than four decades. For Pakistan, this is more than a diplomatic success story. It is an opportunity to redefine its place in the international system.

A conflict that threatened the world

The hostility between the United States and Iran has its roots in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Since then, relations have been characterised by sanctions, proxy conflicts, nuclear disputes, mutual distrust, and periodic military escalations. The consequences of a direct confrontation would have been catastrophic. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of global energy supplies pass, could have become a battlefield. Global oil prices would have surged. Regional allies would have been dragged into conflict. Already fragile economies would have faced severe shocks. Against this backdrop, even incremental progress towards dialogue represents a major achievement.

Pakistan’s unique advantage

Pakistan occupies a distinctive position in the Muslim world and in global diplomacy. It has longstanding strategic relations with the United States while maintaining cordial and historically close ties with neighbouring Iran. It enjoys defence partnerships with Gulf countries and deep economic cooperation with China. Few countries possess this combination of relationships and credibility. This unique positioning enables Islamabad to play the role of a bridge rather than a participant in regional rivalries. Pakistan has consistently advocated dialogue over confrontation. Its........

© Daily Times