ISLAMABAD: Peace has a new guardian in the world, and its name is Pakistan.
Ceasefire deal between USA and Iran as announced in the wee hours of Wednesday was really Pakistan’s proud hour as the country successfully got the two sides agree for a breakthrough that has eased the shadow of conflict which, during the last few weeks, has upset the entire world.
The agreement, which halts all direct hostilities and opens the door for sustained diplomatic engagement, has been hailed worldwide as a triumph of quiet diplomacy.
At the heart of this success stands Pakistan — whose civil and military leadership worked tirelessly, behind the scenes and in full public view — to bridge two adversaries long locked in mistrust.
Pakistan need not explain what role it played as the global media and world capitals all already know well how sincerely and smartly Islamabad worked day and night for the world peace in an environment where spoilers were already active to derail mediation by Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir deserve the world appreciation and nation’s deepest gratitude for their bold and principled statesmanship. From the moment tensions escalated, Islamabad offered itself as a neutral and credible venue for back-channel talks.
Pakistan not only shuttled between Washington and Tehran, carrying messages of restraint and mutual interest, but it also was in constant contact with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other key regional players.
While there were some anxious to see Pakistan dragged into the war, it was Islamabad’s unwavering insistence on dialogue over destruction that kept communication channels open even when the world feared the worst.
Pakistan’s diplomatic history does not see any parallel to what the trio -- Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Field Marshal -- achieved now. Even no other country could do what Pakistan has achieved for the global peace.
Without Pakistan’s unique position -- trusted enough by both the sides -- this ceasefire would not have materialised so swiftly. Pakistan offered something neither side could find elsewhere: credibility without conditionality, mediation without ego and a genuine stake in peace because regional conflict has always exacted the heaviest price from Pakistan itself.
As the world feels relaxed after weeks of extreme tensions, Pakistanis have every reason to feel proud. The ceasefire is a victory for diplomacy, a victory for restraint and, above all, a victory for Pakistan’s mature and united civil-military leadership.
This was not a mediation for headlines. It was discreet, persistent back-channel work: confirming proposals, urging pauses in strikes and pressing both sides to avoid targeting energy infrastructure and commercial shipping. As someone said, “When everyone else was talking about war, Pakistan kept talking about how to stop it.”
