THE recent high-level visits of Premier Shehbaz Sharif to KSA, Qatar and Türkiye, alongside Field Marshal Asim Munir’s engagement with Iran, signal a coordinated and carefully calibrated effort of Islamabad to position itself as a credible mediator in one of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints. At a time when tensions between the US and Iran threaten to destabilize not only the ME but also the broader global order, Pakistan has stepped into an increasingly visible diplomatic role. Ultimately sense has prevailed. Islamabad is hosting century’s biggest US- Iran deal in the presence of top leadership of KSA, Türkiye, France, Qatar, China, Russia and Great Britain. The clock is ticking.

The outreach to Gulf capitals—particularly KSA and Qatar—underscores Pakistan’s intent to build a consensus among key Muslim countries, while engagement with Türkiye adds weight to a broader coalition seeking stability. Direct military-level dialogue with Iran demonstrates seriousness and depth in Pakistan’s peace initiative. These visits are not ceremonial. They reflect a strategic alignment of regional diplomacy aimed at de-escalation. Pakistan, maintaining balanced relations with US and Iran, is uniquely placed to act as a bridge. Backchannel diplomacy and efforts to convert temporary ceasefires into a durable peace framework suggest that Islamabad’s role is being acknowledged internationally.........

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