Though the recent ceasefire talks between Iran and the U.S. held in Islamabad ended without a formal agreement, the successful mediation effort itself marks a major diplomatic triumph for Pakistan. Since the start of the active conflict between both the warring parties, Pakistan was walking a tight rope as it enjoys friendly relations with one party – the U.S – and shares a long border with the other party – Iran. Owing to that, it adopted a smart approach and maintained a position of neutrality. However, unlike many other states, Pakistan did not limit itself to passively observing the events. As the intensity of the conflict grew stronger, Pakistan, which enjoys parallel access to both the U.S and Iran, intensified its efforts for a peace deal and was finally able to bring both parties to the table, for the greater good of the world.
As the ceasefire news spread, world leaders and international institutions thanked Pakistan for averting a conflict which many had apprehended could lead to World War III. Though the negotiations ended without a final deal, it still marks a diplomatic feat for Pakistan for three reasons. First and foremost, Pakistan brought both sides into direct contact: it was after more than four decades that both countries engaged in the highest level of face-to-face talks. It is also pertinent to mention that the United States of America and Iran do not maintain direct diplomatic relations with each other. Secondly, even after both sides failed to lock a deal, the ceasefire remains intact to date, which also predicts the possibility of future engagement. Thirdly, the talks identified exactly where the deadlock persists between the two parties.
The possibility of a second round of talks in Islamabad further reinforces the continued trust and reliance of both parties on Pakistan as a crucial mediator.
The Islamabad talks imply the growing influence of Pakistan in the region and its ability to navigate sensitive geopolitical matters. For the U.S, the primary obstacle to a final agreement was the issue of nuclear weapons. However, Iran’s concern seems to be the trust deficit, as the Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qaibaf said that Washington “failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations”. Tehran wanted assurance that the war would really be over this time, that the bombing would not restart once they made concessions. Realistically, decades of mistrust and bitterness can not be erased within hours. The silver lining is that neither side denied the possibility of future talks. As per the latest reports, U.S. President Donald Trump said that a second round of talks could happen over the next two days in Islamabad. The Iranian officials have also signalled at the possible next round of talks. The possibility of a second round of talks in Islamabad further reinforces the continued trust and reliance of both parties on Pakistan as a crucial mediator. The final takeaway is that for decades, the Western media, the Indian government, and its media reduced Pakistan’s identity to a terrorist state. However, the Islamabad talks rejected all such fabricated narratives, positioning Pakistan as a peacemaker.
The writer is a freelance columnist.