Pakistani mediators were burning the proverbial midnight oil to ensure that diplomacy did not falter
ISLAMABAD:
When news of the evacuation of 22 Iranian crew members of the vessel seized by the US Navy to Pakistan emerged on Monday, it showed the effectiveness of Islamabad’s mediation efforts.
The development was seen as a significant confidence-building measure and a precursor to potential other positive outcomes.
However, within hours of what could be a decisive phase in diplomatic efforts, US President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” to help stranded ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the US Navy.
The announcement sparked an immediate reaction from Iran, which labeled the move a violation of the ceasefire. Tehran then claimed to have hit a US Navy ship with missiles, but CENTCOM denied the incident. Instead, it claimed that during “Project Freedom”, two US-flagged vessels sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the midst of this, the UAE came under alleged missile attacks from Iran. Plumes of smoke coming from Fujairah, an energy strategic hub, sent shock waves across the region.
Alarm bells rang that a renewed war was just around the corner.
The hard-earned truce and progress through backchannel talks was going down the drain.
As the world prepared for the worst, one country refused to lose hope.
Pakistani mediators were burning the proverbial midnight oil to ensure that diplomacy did not falter.
It has not only stepped up its engagement with the main parties involved in the conflict, but also other stakeholders who may have influence.
As the world waited with bated breath, Pakistan’s diplomacy went into overdrive to prevent an escalation.
Pakistan, while treading carefully throughout the conflict, did not say a word when the UAE came under attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and called on all sides to show restraint and observe the ceasefire.
Interestingly, Iran distanced itself from the UAE attacks, even though Iranian state media initially owned the attacks.
This was perhaps due to the backlash Iran faced after the strikes, as the timing was such that negotiations were progressing behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Pakistan reached out to other regional players, especially Saudi Arabia, to find common ground that could prevent the inevitable.
Islamabad along with Riyadh persuaded the Trump administration to reconsider “Project Freedom”.
The challenge, however, was whether President Trump could be convinced.
But as has happened throughout this conflict, Pakistan once again sprung a surprise when President Trump agreed to halt the operation in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of Pakistan and other countries.
“This was certainly a remarkable achievement by Pakistan,” said a diplomatic source whose own country is also part of the diplomatic push.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Trump for the gesture while acknowledging the role of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
After Trump’s announcement, US media reports suggested that Washington and Islamabad were moving closer to a “one-sided” MoU to end the war permanently.
Pakistan is tight-lipped as part of its deliberate approach aimed at not revealing details of intricate secret talks.
But a diplomatic source said much more has happened and has happened behind closed doors. The results of these efforts would soon begin to surface.
Nevertheless, observers have cautioned against high expectations as things could take a turn for the worse at the last minute.
Still, Pakistan is pushing for the process to reach its logical conclusion. “Pakistan has managed to pull things off the brink, at least for now,” a source noted.
