Pakistan in the room of ceasefire but not running the game

Summary

The nuclear-armed Islamic nation has carved out an unlikely role as a mediator in the conflict, capitalising on its warm ties with nearly all of the key players in the six-week war, giving the Pakistani capital a rare moment on the global stage. ALSO READ | JD Vance sets off to Pakistan to lead talks with Iran as war's ceasefire remains shaky But behind the public diplomacy in Islamabad, America’s biggest rival, China, has emerged as the quiet force shaping the outcome, playing a key role alongside the Trump administration in securing the fragile truce. In the hours after the ceasefire was announced by Pakistan, Iranian officials reportedly credited a last-minute push by China with securing their acceptance, a claim soon after validated by Trump. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked China for its support, while the White House said Beijing’s role in the truce took place at the “top levels” of the US and Chinese governments. ALSO READ | Pakistan declares Islamabad holidays ahead of US-Iran talks Pakistan merely a mediator?Arun Singh, a former diplomat who served as India’s ambassador to the US between April 2015 and August 2016, told Bloomberg that Pakistan’s role as an intermediary in the Iran conflict reflected situational utility rather than any structural shift in regional dynamics. “Pakistan had a utility and so it played a role. We shouldn’t fret too much about it,” he said. At the same time, the arrangement carried risks. Pakistani officials as quoted by The Guardian said that while Islamabad acted as mediator, China functioned as a “guarantor,” assuring Iranian officials they would not be targeted during future negotiations. Meanwhile, diplomatic signalling extended beyond formal channels. Sharif, adopting language similar to Trump, said in a post on X that diplomacy was “progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully” and requested a two-week extension of the deadline, tagging the US President and his advisers. Behind the scenes, however, the White House had already reviewed and approved the message before it was posted, according to a New York Times report, indicating more active backchannel engagement than public messaging suggested. Even as Trump publicly warned Iran of severe consequences if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US officials were simultaneously working to de-escalate the crisis ahead of the deadline. A White House official denied speculation that Trump drafted the statement himself, as per NYT. Dragon's diplomacy danceBeijing’s role in the ceasefire reflects its deep ties across the region. China maintains close relations with both Pakistan and Iran, and has remained Tehran’s largest trading partner despite years of US-led sanctions. It has also invested heavily in Pakistan through Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative, with both countries often describing their partnership as “ironclad.” According to a senior Pakistani official cited by AFP, China’s intervention proved decisive at a critical moment. “On ceasefire night, hopes were fading, but China stepped in and convinced Iran to agree to a preliminary ceasefire,” the official said. “While our efforts were central, we were falling short of a breakthrough, which was ultimately achieved after Beijing persuaded the Iranians.” Although Beijing has neither confirmed nor denied its role, and Xi has not publicly commented on the conflict, the move signals a shift from China’s traditional reluctance to get directly involved. Its ability to engage with Iran, Gulf nations and the US simultaneously has positioned it as a key behind-the-scenes actor. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 26 calls with counterparts from relevant countries, while Beijing’s Middle East envoy “shuttled across” the region during the conflict, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson. Even so, analysts say China may avoid taking on a formal guarantor role, preferring to limit its involvement to quiet diplomacy. Despite the ceasefire, negotiations remain complex. A key point of disagreement is Lebanon, which Pakistan and Iran want included in the truce but Israel has rejected. Israel has continued strikes targeting Hezbollah, while the United States plans separate talks with Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington. (With inputs from agencies) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Explore More Stories