Pakistan is basking in new glory

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad was on the cusp of an extraordinary diplomatic moment on Wednesday as Pakistan moved from crisis broker to host of high-stakes talks, a development Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif framed as “the most historic moment of honour” in the country’s history.

The White House has confirmed that Vice President JD Vance would travel to Pakistan that the negotiations on Saturday, accompanied by senior envoys. Iran is expected to send Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Pakistan brokered a 15-day ceasefire early Wednesday after a tense 40-day standoff between the United States and Iran, with Islamabad maintaining a careful balance, avoiding aligning with either side while quietly working to open channels of de-escalation and dialogue.

Addressing a federal cabinet meeting amid a charged atmosphere, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the feat was achieved through unity, coordinated civil-military leadership and sustained diplomatic engagement.

Pakistan has been “blessed with a rare honor” in helping calm a conflict that threatened to spiral far beyond the region,” he told cabinet members, who had greeted him with a standing ovation as he outlined the significance of the breakthrough.

“This reflects the collective efforts and prayers of the nation and the commitment of the leadership to prevent escalation among brother countries,” he said, stressing that a potentially devastating confrontation had been contained, at least temporarily, through diplomacy.

On Tuesday, Pakistan intervened directly, with the prime minister urging US President Donald Trump to delay his threat of imminent military action for two weeks, while also calling on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a gesture of goodwill.

His double appeal helped unlock a lull in hostilities. Shehbaz described the response from both sides as marked by “remarkable wisdom and understanding”, adding that the ceasefire created a narrow but crucial window for diplomacy to take root and avert further escalation.

Building on this momentum, the prime minister extended a formal invitation to both sides to meet in Islamabad, setting the stage for what he called the ‘Islamabad talks’ aimed at reaching a “final agreement” to resolve long-standing disputes.

“I warmly welcome the wise gesture and express the deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries,” he said, adding: “We sincerely hope that the Islamabad talks succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days.”

White House confirmation followed quickly, with officials announcing that a US negotiating team led by Vice President JD Vance would travel to Pakistan, accompanied by senior envoys, for in-person talks scheduled to begin Saturday morning local time.

Iran, struggling with the loss of several senior leaders during the conflict, is expected to send a high-level delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, signaling the seriousness with which Tehran is approaching the talks.

During the diplomatic opening, important issues will be discussed. US officials indicated that talks would be held behind closed doors and stressed that Washington’s core demands had not changed even as they agreed to a temporary suspension of military operations.

President Trump, who had previously threatened dire consequences, acknowledged Pakistan’s intervention in delaying the military action, linking the pause to assurances sought from both Islamabad and Tehran, particularly regarding maritime security in the Gulf.

Inside Pakistan, preparations to hold the talks moved into high gear, turning Islamabad into a tightly controlled diplomatic enclave as authorities put in place extensive security and administrative measures.

A two-day public holiday was announced on Thursday and Friday to facilitate the arrival and movement of foreign delegations, with all official activities in the federal capital, including sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate, suspended.

Specialist teams have been formed to oversee protocol, logistics and accommodation, reflecting the scale and sensitivity of the engagement as Pakistan prepares to host delegations from the two nations, which have a long history of hostility.

A five-star hotel located in the red zone has been designated to house the visiting delegations, with law enforcement agencies taking full control of its security. Existing guests have been asked to vacate to make way for official use.

A tight security cordon has been established around the facility, with containers placed on surrounding roads and access roads sealed or severely restricted, effectively making the area a fortified zone during the negotiations.

Authorities have directed that access to the Red Zone be closed during key phases of the negotiations, with access limited strictly to authorized individuals subject to thorough security clearance and verification procedures.

Special traffic management plans are being implemented to handle the movement of delegations with designated routes and controlled corridors aimed at minimizing disruption while ensuring maximum security. Officials said the measures were necessary.

In his Cabinet speech, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of unity between political and military leadership and described it as a decisive factor in Pakistan’s diplomatic success during the crisis.

He credited Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his team for working tirelessly to facilitate the engagement, while hailing Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for maintaining continuous contacts with international stakeholders.

The prime minister also acknowledged the role of friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Turkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, Azerbaijan, UAE and China, in supporting Pakistan’s peace initiative at a critical time.

Referring to his recent conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following attacks on Saudi energy facilities, Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with the kingdom and reaffirmed longstanding ties between the two countries.

He stressed that the ceasefire represented only a first step and warned that sustained diplomatic efforts would be required to turn the temporary pause into a durable solution capable of addressing the underlying tensions.

“The flames of conflict, which had threatened to spread across the region for more than a month, have been subdued for two weeks,” he said, expressing hope that the window would lead to a permanent ceasefire and broader stability.

Highlighting the domestic dimension, the prime minister said the government had simultaneously managed economic pressures, including inflation, through coordinated policy measures and targeted interventions to protect citizens from external shocks.

He expressed gratitude to President Asif Zardari, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as well as coalition partners and the provincial leadership for their support during the critical period.

The prime minister emphasized that the diplomatic success belonged to the entire nation, from workers and farmers to professionals and civil servants, portraying it as a collective achievement that had raised Pakistan’s global stature.

“Pakistan has changed forever,” he declared, adding that the country was now viewed with renewed respect and dignity for its responsible role in promoting peace and stability.

Later, while expressing concern over ceasefire violations in some places, Shehbaz urged all sides to respect the ceasefire. “Ceasefire violations have been reported in a few places across the conflict zone, undermining the spirit of the peace process,” he wrote on X.

“I sincerely and earnestly call on all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed, so that diplomacy can take a leading role towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the prime minister added.

(With input from NAEEM ASGHAR & AGENCIES)