Islamabad : Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has identified three structural consequences of the ongoing Gulf conflict: the collapse of the “Greater Israel” plan, the erosion of US regional influence and the urgent need for a new cooperative security architecture for the Middle East.
Mushahid was delivering his keynote address at a Roundtable Discussion on “The Israel-US war on Iran: assessing regional fallout and Pakistan's mediation role” convened here by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Jauhar Saleem, President, IRS, chaired.
Mushahid described the moment as the most significant in Pakistan’s diplomatic history since 1971. He drew on Pakistan’s track record of facilitating dialogue, as it did in the Beijing-Washington backchannel of the 70s. He underscored that the “security of the Gulf must be determined by regional stakeholders, not outside powers” noting that 84 percent of Pakistanis stand in solidarity with Iran.
Ambassador of Iran Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam offered a first-hand account of Iran’s experience of the conflict, thanking Pakistan for its solidarity and expressing cautious hope for Islamabad Talks. He affirmed Iran’s openness to dialogue while noting that its adversaries seek to collapse its government and expressed confidence that “Iran’s civilisational resilience will endure because it is rooted in an organisational rather than individual-based system.” He emphasised that Pakistan, as a trusted Islamic country and neighbour, is Iran’s preferred partner for any positive diplomatic outcome.
Political analyst and journalist Muneezay Jehangir said that Pakistan built a narrative that the path to resolving conflicts runs through dialogue, underlining that the present war is deeply unpopular among both American and Pakistani publics
Former ambassador Asif Durrani assessed that US-Israeli aggression failed to achieve its stated objectives, calling for a new regional security paradigm supported by Russia and China for sustainable peace and stability in the region.
Journalist Hamid Mir noted that Pakistan’s growing international stature as a mediator is inseparable from Iran’s own bravery and sacrifice and that America’s image as a superpower suffered lasting damage, compelling it to return to the negotiating table. He expressed cautious hope that the Islamabad Talks could lead to an enduring understanding between US and Iran.
