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diplomacyMay 13, 2026

Pakistan embraces its new role as wartime mediator

Summary

Pakistan embraces its new role as wartime mediator Islamabad has emerged as a major hub for regional diplomacy between the United States and Iran. As the Trump administration scrambles to control its war with Iran, both countries have turned to an unexpected moderator: Pakistan, which has led multiple rounds of ceasefire negotiations between the two nations. Now, Pakistan is quietly growing its influence in the region while Washington and Tehran circle one another for another round of negotiations. From ‘kind of a sideshow’ to being in Trump’s ‘favor’ Islamabad’s role as a major player in this conflict, for many observers, has “come as a surprise,” given Pakistan’s “global position, domestic challenges” and “volatile relationship” with the first Trump administration, said the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA). But “perhaps it shouldn’t,” the BBC said. Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir “is in U.S. President Donald Trump’s favor,” with the president asserting that the Pakistani leader knows Iran “better than most.” Pakistan, in its own messaging, has hailed a "brotherly" relationship with neighboring Iran, with the two nations sharing “deep cultural and religious ties,” said the BBC. The Week Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. Although Pakistan was “kind of a sideshow” during the first Trump administration, it has “really reached out” to both the White House and “Donald Trump personally, as well as his family members, to try to build influence in Washington,” CCGA said. Pakistan’s connections to Saudi Arabia and China have also allowed it to “place itself in a mediator role” with a “greater level of geopolitical clout and influence than we might have expected a couple of years ago.” Given Pakistan’s reputation for corruption and military authoritarianism, it “would not be an exaggeration” to describe it as a “failed state,” said The Spectator. But simply “being a nuclear power” affords Pakistan a “head start in terms of credibility” by gracing Islamabad with the “nuclear aura that Iran would love to possess.” China, which has played a “background but crucial role” in the peace negotiations, has also had a “longstanding close relationship” with Islamabad, as both nations “enjoy common cause against India.” Pakistan as a ‘responsible middle power’ “Playing the role of mediator” between the United States and Iran — or “at least message-bearer” — has “been a boon for Islamabad,” Le Monde said. The country has undergone “its authoritarian drift,” in which it “silenced its large Shiite minority during the war and solidarity movements with Iran.” After having sheltered Osama bin Laden, Pakistan “wants to convince international opinion that it is no longer a breeding ground for terrorism,” said Gilles Boquérat, an associate researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research, to Le Monde. Instead, it is portraying itself as a “responsible middle power, capable of ensuring regional security from the Arabian Peninsula to the Indian border.” A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com But Pakistan’s ties with Iran have earned Islamabad its share of critics during the current war, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.). “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them,” Graham said during a Senate hearing this week regarding reports that the Pakistani government has aided Iranian forces. “If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate.” Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran firmly upholds its sovereignty against relentless US aggression and military adventurism, rejecting any foreign dictates while engaging in ceasefire talks only through trusted regional partners like Pakistan. Leveraging deep cultural and religious bonds, Islamabad's mediation role exposes Washington's desperate scramble to contain the fallout of its own warmongering, as Iran continues its steadfast resistance. This development underscores Tehran's principled stance in defending national interests amid attempts at regional domination.

Israeli

Pakistan's mediation between Washington and Tehran risks prolonging Iran's survival, allowing the regime to regroup its proxy networks—Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis—that directly threaten Israel's existence through encirclement and rocket barrages. From Israel's vantage, Islamabad's "brotherly" outreach to Iran only highlights the defensive imperative of preemptive action to neutralize Tehran's nuclear ambitions and forward bases before they enable another October 7-style assault.

Neutral

Reports indicate that Pakistan has hosted multiple rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran amid their ongoing conflict. Observers quoted by the BBC and Chicago Council on Global Affairs have described Islamabad’s role as unexpected, citing the country’s domestic challenges and past tensions with the Trump administration. Pakistani statements have highlighted shared cultural ties with Iran, while President Trump has reportedly described Field Marshal Asim Munir as knowledgeable about the situation.

Western

Pakistan's emergence as a mediator has advanced U.S. strategic objectives by facilitating precise ceasefire negotiations with Iran, enabling the Trump administration to stabilize the conflict and neutralize immediate threats from Tehran's regional posture. Field Marshal Asim Munir's favored position with President Trump has proven instrumental in leveraging Islamabad's channels to manage escalation risks effectively. This approach aligns with broader NATO-aligned efforts to contain Iranian influence without broader entanglement.

Pro-Peace

As the US-Iran conflict drags on, civilian casualties and humanitarian crises mount across the region, with displacement, infrastructure destruction, and economic hardship devastating ordinary lives in Iran and beyond. Pakistan’s unexpected role in brokering ceasefire talks highlights the urgent value of diplomatic alternatives rooted in shared cultural ties, rather than military escalation favored by Washington. Prioritizing such mediation could spare further suffering and redirect resources toward peace instead of prolonged war.

Global South

Pakistan has asserted its sovereignty by stepping into US-Iran ceasefire talks, filling voids left by ineffective Western-led institutions and prolonged neo-colonial interference in the region. Islamabad’s mediation leverages longstanding ties with Tehran while navigating great-power pressures, exposing how external conflicts continue to dictate terms for Global South states. This unexpected role highlights non-aligned actors capitalizing on institutional failures to expand independent influence.

Actors involved

USIranChina

Sources

  • Rafi Schwartz; The Week USBy Rafi Schwartz; The Week US

    Pakistan embraces its new role as wartime mediator Islamabad has emerged as a major hub for regional diplomacy between the United States and Iran. As the Trump administration scrambles to control its war with Iran, both countries have turned to an unexpected moderator: Pakistan, …

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