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Pakistan’s pivotal moment: Peacemaker, partner, or tightrope walker?

It has emerged as a key interlocutor between the US and Iran, but its position is as precarious as it is prestigious

    • Pakistan’s emergence as a mediator is not merely opportunistic; it also rests on genuine structural advantages.
    • Pakistan’s emergence as a mediator is not merely opportunistic; it also rests on genuine structural advantages. PHOTO: EPA

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    Published Thu, Apr 2, 2026 · 12:00 PM

    IN THE fog of a Middle East war that has obstructed the Strait of Hormuz and triggered the worst energy crisis since 1973, an unlikely diplomatic capital has emerged: Islamabad.

    Pakistan’s willingness to host US-Iran peace talks is not an accident of geography. It is the fruit of a carefully cultivated relationship with Washington that has been quietly ripening since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

    The moment is as revealing as it is consequential for understanding where US-Pakistan relations truly stand.

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