How Pakistan helped broker a US-Iran ceasefire

Pakistan has played a central role in mediating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, drawing on its diplomatic relationships, regional positioning and coordination with major powers to facilitate indirect negotiations.

According to the AFP, here is how Islamabad positioned itself as a key intermediary:

Why Pakistan was able to mediate

Pakistan is among the few countries that maintains working relations with both Washington and Tehran, giving it a distinctive diplomatic role.

Former ambassador Asif Durrani said, "Pakistan has strong credentials as the only country in the region enjoying good relations with the US and Iran." He added that Iran felt "more comfortable in Islamabad which is why it accepted Pakistan's mediation."

Pakistan also represents certain Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington, where Iran has no embassy, further reinforcing its intermediary role.

Geography and social ties strengthen this position. Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and has deep cultural and religious links, including a large Shia population.

Personal relationships at the leadership level have also contributed. Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, has developed a rapport with US President Donald Trump, who said Pakistan knows Iran "better than most." Munir, alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has also previously praised Trump's intervention in regional crises as "bold and visionary." Munir separately said Trump "deserved the Nobel Peace Prize" for stopping an escalation between nuclear-armed neighbors.

How the mediation unfolded

Pakistan coordinated a series of regional and international consultations to support the talks.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar led discussions with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt focused on de-escalation. He then travelled to China, Iran's largest trading partner, to align positions with Beijing.

The Chinese government expressed support for "Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation," reinforcing Islamabad's diplomatic efforts.

During the process, Pakistani officials acted as a "go-between," facilitating communication between parties and helping to "fine-tune the language" of the agreement when negotiations faced difficulties, as described by Durrani.

The outcome was a two-week ceasefire "everywhere," according to Sharif, intended as a bridge toward further talks scheduled in Islamabad.

Balancing regional relationships

Pakistan's mediation required careful balancing of its ties with both Saudi Arabia and China.

Its relationship with Saudi Arabia is anchored by a 2025 mutual defence agreement, which formalises longstanding security cooperation but also places limits on how far Islamabad can align with Iran. To maintain this relationship, Pakistan continues regular high-level consultations with Saudi leadership, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

China, by contrast, serves as a facilitator. As Iran's largest trading partner, Beijing's support and economic influence provided additional leverage to bring Tehran into the negotiations.

A test of diplomatic capacity

Pakistan's role has been described by analysts as a significant diplomatic achievement.

South Asia expert Michael Kugelman said, "Pakistan achieved one of its biggest diplomatic wins in years." He added that it "[It] defied many skeptics and naysayers that didn't think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high stakes feat."

The mediation highlights how Pakistan leveraged its access to both sides, regional partnerships and communication channels to support an agreement in a complex geopolitical environment.