Pakistani mediators worked until midnight to ensure that diplomacy did not falter.
ISLAMABAD:
When news emerged on Monday of the evacuation of 22 Iranian crew members from the ship seized by the US Navy from Pakistan, it signified the effectiveness of Islamabad’s mediation efforts.
This measure was seen as an important confidence-building measure and a precursor to other possible positive outcomes.
However, just hours into what could be a defining phase in diplomatic efforts, US President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” to help stranded ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the US Navy.
The announcement sparked an immediate reaction from Iran, which called the move a violation of the ceasefire. Tehran then claimed to have attacked a US naval ship with missiles, but CENTCOM denied the incident. Instead, he claimed that under “Project Freedom,” two American-flagged ships successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the midst of this, the United Arab Emirates came under alleged missile attacks by Iran. Plumes of smoke from Fujairah, a strategic energy center, caused shocks throughout the region.
The alarms rang that a new war was just around the corner.
The hard-won ceasefire and progress achieved through side talks were about to go down the drain.
As the world prepared for the worst, one country refused to give up hope.
Pakistani mediators worked until midnight to ensure that diplomacy did not falter.
It has not only intensified its engagement with the main parties involved in the conflict, but also with other stakeholders who can have influence.
As the world waited with bated breath, Pakistan’s diplomacy went into overdrive to prevent an escalation.
Pakistan, while acting cautiously throughout the conflict, did not mince its words when the UAE was attacked. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and urged all parties to show restraint and respect the ceasefire.
Interestingly, Iran distanced itself from the UAE attacks, although Iranian state media initially hijacked the attacks.
This, perhaps, was due to the backlash that Iran faced after the attacks, as it was the time when talks were progressing behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Pakistan reached out to other regional players, particularly Saudi Arabia, to find common ground that could avoid the inevitable.
Islamabad, along with Riyadh, persuaded the Trump administration to reconsider “Project Freedom.”
The challenge, however, was whether President Trump could be convinced.
But as has happened throughout this conflict, Pakistan once again sprung a surprise when President Trump agreed to pause the operation in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of Pakistan and other countries.
“This was certainly a notable achievement by Pakistan,” said a diplomatic source, whose own country is also part of the diplomatic push.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Trump for the gesture while also acknowledging the role of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Following Trump’s announcement, US media reports suggested that Washington and Islamabad were moving closer to a “one-page” MoU to end the war permanently.
Pakistan is keeping its mouth shut as part of its deliberate approach aimed at not revealing details of intricate secret talks.
But a diplomatic source said much more has happened and it has been happening behind closed doors. The result of those efforts would begin to surface soon.
However, observers warn against high expectations, as things could get worse at the last minute.
However, Pakistan is pushing for the process to reach its logical end. “Pakistan has managed to climb out of the abyss, at least for now,” said one source.
