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ISLAMABAD: In the world of diplomacy, breakthroughs typically take months, and sometimes years. But Pakistan has given it a meaning the world had not known before — with the blessings of Allah Almighty.
From tensions involving the United States and Iran to renewed volatility between Lebanon and Israel, and from Gulf rivalries to worldwide fears over energy chokepoints, Islamabad has, within a fortnight, been involved in diplomatic openings that few would have predicted.
The best of the best in the world of politics and diplomacy could not achieve in years what the Pakistani trio — led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar — has made possible in such a short span of time through their nonstop diplomacy for which they had to spend sleepless nights.
The most consequential development has been a cooling of decades-old tensions between Washington and Tehran. While the UN and Europe were acting merely as spectators, Pakistan helped bring the world back from the brink of a wider conflict by facilitating a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
At the same time, Pakistan remained in constant contact with Iran and Arab Gulf countries to ensure they did not enter into an extended war with each other. Within days of the ceasefire, Islamabad hosted talks between Iran and the US — the first-ever high-level direct engagement between the two countries since 1979. A second round of Islamabad talks is expected soon, aiming for a breakthrough between the two rivals, durable peace and easing economic concerns around the globe.
What has surprised many, Pakistan also has its important role in the ceasefire between Lebanon and the Israel front. Media reports credit Pakistan for helping achieve it via the United States. In the Gulf, another quiet but significant move by Pakistan was the renewal of communication channel between the United Arab Emirates and Iran to ease tensions between the Muslim countries.
Following the temporary US-Iran ceasefire, the most serious concern was the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of global oil supplies flow. After Field Marshal Asim Munir’s surprise visit to Iran, considered a daring move in the present tense environment, Iran announced on Friday the continued opening of this corridor. This is a major news for the entire world and, for the same reason, led to immediate appreciation from Donald Trump for Pakistan, its prime minister and Field Marshal. It has significant implications for energy markets, inflation and household costs worldwide. Pakistan has been active on multiple fronts between Washington, DC, Tehran and Riyadh maintaining direct leader-to-leader contacts and demonstrating an unusual level of coordination within a short span of time. Except for Israel and India, most countries are praising Pakistan for its remarkable role. For the same reasons, the past two weeks mark a notable shift in Islamabad’s global perception. Pakistan, long viewed primarily through a negative lens, is asserting itself as a peacemaker who has stunned the world capitals willing by engaging the worst adversaries and push for dialogue. As our prime minister says, and the Field Marshal believes, we owe our success to Allah and offer all praise to Him. We show no arrogance, only humility.
