Pakistan played key diplomatic role in bringing US, Iran to talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan played an important mediating role in reducing tensions between the United States and Iran by helping bring the two countries to the negotiating table, according to an analysis by policy platform South Asian Voices.

The analysis, which focuses on security, political and economic developments in South Asia, said Pakistan established communication channels between Washington and Tehran at a time when relations between the two sides had reached a critical point of heightened tensions and mutual confrontation.

According to the report, Pakistan succeeded in facilitating dialogue between a global power and a key regional player, playing a diplomatic role that major countries including China, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom were unable to achieve.

The analysis stated that more than 20 hours of talks between US and Iranian representatives in Islamabad marked the highest-level direct engagement between the two countries since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

It added that although both Washington and Tehran accused each other of violating the ceasefire arrangements, neither side completely abandoned the negotiation process.

The report noted that blaming the mediator for failure would be inaccurate, as maintaining dialogue between opposing parties remains a significant diplomatic achievement in itself.