THE fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US may have slowed the fighting, but the conflict driving it remains unresolved. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s meetings in Tehran over the weekend show the urgency of the crisis and the narrowing space for diplomacy.

Even as President Donald Trump warned that “the clock is ticking” for Iran, reports suggest diplomacy may already have helped avert another escalation after Tehran submitted a revised proposal through Islamabad. That underlines how consequential Pakistan’s role has become.

Islamabad is increasingly acting as a conduit through which proposals move between Tehran and Washington. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s contacts with Qatar and Egypt further demonstrate Pakistan’s attempt to position........

© Dawn