ISLAMABAD:
In a diplomatic development that has surprised observers around the world, Pakistan has emerged as a central mediator in brokering a peace process between the United States and Iran, bringing two old adversaries from the brink of a broader regional war to a formal agreement announced on June 14.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, announcing the breakthrough in the early hours of Monday, described it as a “new dawn of peace.”
The statement immediately attracted global attention, with multiple world capitals acknowledging Pakistan’s role in facilitating the process, while Israel and India notably refrained from referring to Islamabad’s involvement.
According to former diplomats and international affairs experts, the achievement was not accidental but the result of sustained, discreet and strategically positioned diplomacy.
At a time when escalating hostilities between Washington and Tehran had triggered fears of a broader conflict, including concerns about disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, Pakistan entered a space that no other actor could or wanted to occupy.
Experts say Pakistan’s credibility emerged from its unique diplomatic position: simultaneously trusting Washington and Tehran, maintaining constructive ties with Gulf states and staying out of direct military entanglements in the conflict zone.
This allowed Islamabad to function as a rare bridge between two deeply polarized sides.
Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and senior diplomat Masood Khan termed the achievement as unprecedented.
“This is a historic success, unparalleled in diplomatic history, when a single country has managed to negotiate a ceasefire, host face-to-face talks between two sworn enemies for the first time in 47 years and deliver an agreed Memorandum of Understanding. Today, Pakistan stands at the highest peak of its statehood. Its diplomacy is through the roof. This is not hyperbole; it is reality,” he commented.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed also stressed the importance of Pakistani mediation. “Only thanks to Pakistan and its mediation, the ceasefire happened on April 7, 2026. Israel continuously tried to destroy the process. So the credit goes to Pakistan for what they did,” he said, adding, “After 47 years, Pakistan was able to bring them together in the same city, in the same hotel, in the same room. That was not even possible for any country, not even the UN, the OIC, the European Union or the Arab League.”
Despite repeated geopolitical pressure points and attempts to disrupt the process, Pakistan maintained its diplomatic channel and ensured continued engagement between the two sides.
Analysts remain divided over whether Pakistan’s role fundamentally altered the trajectory of the conflict or simply accelerated an inevitable thaw.
However, former UN ambassador Munir Akram maintains that the intervention was decisive in preventing an escalation into a broader regional war.
“It’s a very fair claim that Pakistan helped prevent a broader regional war. The United States wanted a direct deal. Iran wanted its assets and other things. We found a way to address both problems. The Gulf countries were attacked, so it was a broader war. Containing it is a big thing.”
He added that negotiations remain ongoing and require continued engagement over the next 60 days to formalize ceasefire agreements, address asset-related disputes and resolve maritime issues related to the Strait of Hormuz.
Masood Khan warned of the wider risks involved. “There was a deep mistrust between the United States and Iran. Both had been obstinate in a long war. And there were many spoilers in the game. But Pakistan quickly realized that this war, which had kept the entire world hostage, could lead to multiple conflicts that would have triggered a third world war. Already, three continents, the Americas, Asia and Europe, had become part of the theaters of war. Pakistan has brought the world back from the precipice.”
This development has also sparked reflection on Pakistan’s evolving diplomatic identity, with analysts noting a shift from previous periods of tense external relations to renewed relevance in high-level mediation efforts.
Mushahid Hussain Syed said Pakistan was regaining its traditional diplomatic role. “Pakistan has always played an important role. We lost our way after the Afghan conflict. So we are bringing back what we were good at.”
He added: “Pakistan is no longer just any country, but an important Muslim power in the most strategic region. It is not a middleman or anything like that, but an important Muslim power.”
Masood Khan situated the development within a longer historical continuum of Pakistani diplomacy, referencing past roles in US-China engagement and Middle East peace processes, calling the latest development a “historic achievement” in that trajectory.
Mushahid further described it as one of Pakistan’s most important diplomatic victories in decades, adding: “I would say this is one of Pakistan’s biggest diplomatic triumphs in decades, such as after the OIC Council organized in Lahore and the China-US talks in 1971. This is huge. It has historic consequences for the region and the world.” He concluded: “Pakistan is now the go-to country for global diplomacy. All roads lead to Islamabad.”
However, the key question, analysts say, is whether Pakistan can convert this diplomatic boost into long-term strategic and economic dividends.
