With Pakistan stepping in the middle of a major geopolitical conflict, Islamabad is forced to balance between Washington, Tehran, Beijing and key Gulf allies. A recent US media report places it under even more scrutiny.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DogcPakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (L) hosted high-level talks between US and Iranian officials which involved Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi in AprilImage: Pakistan Prime Minister Office/AP Photo/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementPakistan has taken on a leading role in the peace efforts between the US and Iran, hosting talks and serving as an intermediary for backchannel diplomacy between the warring parties.
For Islamabad, the stakes are high. Officials view stability in the Gulf as closely tied to the country's own economic and security interests. A broader confrontation between the US and Iran could disrupt trade routes, deepen energy pressures, inflame sectarian tensions and further destabilize Pakistan's sensitive border regions with Iran.
International prestige is also at play for the Pakistani government as they work to end a conflict affecting the entire world. But this also means a risk of reputational damage.
"Pakistan risks growing criticism if its efforts to revive US-Iran talks fail, especially after publicly taking a leading mediation role," Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Washington-based Atlantic Council, told DW.
"With talks stalled, Pakistan's options are limited because a mediator cannot force two deeply distrustful sides to negotiate," he added.
"Pakistan is trying its best to engage both parties and views the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran with grave concern," a senior government official involved in the negotiation process told DW.
"We are committed to playing a constructive diplomatic role to support immediate de-escalation and a peaceful resolution in the interest of regional and global security," the official added.
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Earlier this week, a report in US media raised doubt over Pakistan's neutrality in the Iran conflict. Citing unnamed US officials, CBS News reported that Pakistan had allowed Iran to park its aircraft on Pakistani airbases, effectively shielding them from US strikes.
Pakistan's Foreign Office immediately responded by calling the report "misleading" and "speculative." In an official statement, Islamabad said the aircraft activity was linked to diplomatic and logistical arrangements connected to ongoing peace efforts and involved personnel from multiple sides.
The Foreign Office also warned that "unverified and sensationalized reporting" risked undermining sensitive diplomatic initiatives.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, an outspoken supporter of the US war in Iran, publicly criticized Pakistan following the CBS report. His remarks reflect broader concerns among some US policymakers who fear Pakistan may be appearing too accommodating toward Tehran while still seeking to preserve strategic ties with Washington.
At the same time, US rival China has openly encouraged Pakistan to expand its diplomatic role. According to the AFP news agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Islamabad to "step up" mediation efforts between Iran and the United States and help stabilize the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
The question remains, however, how much Pakistan can do to bridge the divide between Washington and Tehran. The US and Iran held a high-level summit in Islamabad last month, but Pakistan's subsequent efforts to set up direct talks have failed.
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"The outcome of the talks was never guaranteed, nor in the hands of Pakistan," Imtiaz Gul, an independent security analyst, told DW. "It all depended on Trump's willingness to engage in talks based on Iran's ten-point proposal. Agreement was also contingent upon Iran's willingness to stick to all demands or recalibrate for a middle way," he added.
"I think the US and others misread the Iranian character and underestimated their resolve. This is what caused the setback. I am not sure if the level of trust in Pakistan (of the respective parties) is as high as it was when the mediation was launched," remarked Gul.
While Islamabad maintains working relations with both the US and Iran, every diplomatic move risks generating suspicion from one side or the other. Critics in Washington question whether Pakistan is too soft on Tehran, while Iranian officials remain cautious because of Pakistan's longstanding military and strategic ties with the United States and Saudi Arabia.
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A wrong move from Pakistan could also strain its ties with China or Iran's rivals in the Middle East.
"Pakistan will likely continue trying, but expectations should remain limited. Islamabad is not in a position to shape US-Iran tensions in any major way. Its main role is keeping communication open when direct engagement becomes difficult," Fatemeh Aman, an independent expert on Iran-Pakistan ties, told DW.
"The core disputes between Tehran and Washington — sanctions, regional security, and nuclear issues — are beyond Pakistan's influence. At the same time, Pakistan struggles to balance ties with Iran, the US and Gulf Arab states, which creates mistrust on all sides. As tensions rise, maintaining that balance becomes increasingly difficult," Aman underlined.
Analysts say Pakistan's realistic role is likely to remain limited to facilitating communication and supporting de-escalation efforts rather than brokering any major diplomatic breakthrough between the two rivals.
Kugelman warns that there is a growing risk of Iran perceiving Pakistan as too close to the US, especially given President Donald Trump's repeated praise of Pakistan.
"The most practical step Pakistan can take is encouraging both sides to maintain and extend the ceasefire. At the same time, Pakistan must carefully preserve its credibility with Iran. Reports suggesting Pakistan is not accurately conveying positions between Tehran and Washington could damage its role as a neutral mediator," said the US-based expert.
