The fact that no agreement emerged after just one day of direct talks between Iran and the United States—their first high-level face-to-face engagement since 1979—should still be viewed as a meaningful diplomatic success for Pakistan, not a setback. In international relations, particularly when dealing with adversaries separated by decades of mistrust, the first breakthrough is not always a signed deal; sometimes it is simply getting both sides to sit down in the same room and begin speaking again.

A closer look at what actually occurred in Islamabad makes this clearer. Pakistan succeeded in bringing senior officials from Washington and Tehran together for direct, face-to-face discussions. That alone is a significant diplomatic achievement. The United States and Iran have not maintained normal diplomatic relations for decades, and even indirect communication has often been limited, fragmented, or conducted through intermediaries. To facilitate a setting where both sides agreed to engage directly at senior levels reflects a considerable degree of trust in Pakistan’s neutrality, security arrangements, and diplomatic credibility.

Equally important is the public recognition Pakistan received from both sides for its role in enabling the talks. In diplomacy, acknowledgements of this kind are not routine courtesies; they are signals of confidence. When adversaries both credit a third party for facilitating dialogue, it indicates that the host has managed to remain sufficiently balanced and credible to avoid being perceived as biased.

Effusive praise directed toward Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, further reinforced this perception. Senior American figures, including US Vice President JD Vance, were among those noted as acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts to bring the two sides closer to a possible........

© The Friday Times