Pakistan Acts as Courier in US-Iran Peace Negotiations

Pakistan has emerged as a diplomatic courier in the ongoing US-Iran peace talks, rather than a mediator. Following a two-week ceasefire agreement, Pakistan's role was highlighted when Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received congratulatory calls from global leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The US presented a 15-point proposal to Iran, which included demands for dismantling Iran's nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran rejected this outright and sent a five-point counterproposal through Pakistan. The Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Beijing to meet with Wang Yi was pivotal in facilitating these discussions.

The situation escalated when Israel launched airstrikes in Lebanon, killing 250 people shortly after the ceasefire announcement. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized Israel's actions, emphasizing Pakistan's neutral stance despite its exclusion from discussions involving Israel.