Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of the Iran-US deal to permanently end military operations could mark one of the most consequential diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in recent decades.
After years of confrontation, sanctions, military escalation and recurring crises that repeatedly pushed the region to the brink of a wider conflict, the signing of a formal agreement, electronically, between Tehran and Washington provides a rare opportunity to replace confrontation with diplomacy.
However, the euphoria and optimism created by the agreement must be tempered with caution. There is always a risk of peace agreements being derailed in the period between publication and implementation. History is replete with examples of spoilers seeking to derail diplomatic initiatives through provocation, military escalation or political sabotage.
Israel has already announced that it is not bound by the Iran-US deal. The Israeli announcement came despite US President Trump’s warning against actions in Lebanon that could undermine the peace process, underscoring the fragility of the current moment.
Therefore, it would be crucial for all regional actors to show restraint and recognize that the effort goes far beyond bilateral relations between Iran and the United States.
The importance of the agreement lies not only in ending the war between Iran and the United States, but also in creating an opportunity to rethink the region’s security framework. For decades, the Middle East has suffered from a lack of an inclusive security architecture to manage disputes, reduce mistrust and prevent crises from escalating into armed conflict.
Temporary understandings can reduce tensions, but lasting stability requires institutions, mechanisms and habits of cooperation. This is where Pakistan’s role deserves special mention, especially in the hostilities between the US and Iran.
It is widely believed that the success of any mediation effort fundamentally depends on the credibility of the mediator. Diplomatic channels can only work when both parties have confidence in the intermediary’s intentions, judgment and ability to understand their concerns.
The Iran-US peace deal appears to have uniquely positioned Pakistan as a credible partner. There is a reason for this: Pakistan has a long-standing relationship with Iran, rooted in geography, history, cultural ties and shared strategic interests. At the same time, Pakistan has maintained constructive relations with the United States across multiple administrations and remains an important regional partner.
Indeed, when examining Iran’s neighborhood and the wider region, it is difficult to identify another country that simultaneously enjoyed the trust of both Tehran and Washington to the same extent. Many states are perceived as being closer to one side or the other. Pakistan’s ability to maintain working relations with both countries while maintaining its credibility made it particularly well-suited to facilitate dialogue during a period of extraordinary tension.
Yet Pakistan’s credibility did not produce the deal alone. The mediation process itself was painstaking, exhausting and often invisible to the public, with Pakistan making frantic efforts to iron out the parties’ divergent positions. Diplomatic breakthroughs are rarely achieved through dramatic gestures.
They emerge through countless meetings, careful consultations and meticulous work with language. In negotiations involving highly sensitive political and security issues, every word counts. A single sentence can determine whether a deal succeeds or collapses. Pakistan not only played the role of an honest mediator but also helped the parties to overcome the roadblocks.
Pakistan has traditionally had a strong reputation for diplomatic professionalism and negotiation skills in both bilateral and multilateral fora. Pakistani diplomats have long been recognized for their ability to create a language that bridges differences, accommodates competing interests and creates room for compromise without forcing either side into politically difficult positions.
Such expertise becomes especially valuable in negotiations, where both parties must be able to present the outcome in accordance with their national interests and domestic political requirements. Both Iran and the US appreciated Pakistan’s valuable contribution to save the dialogue through its negotiation skills.
It is reasonable to assume that these diplomatic forces would have played an important role in helping Tehran and Washington move from confrontation toward consensus.
If the deal proves durable, especially if Iran’s frozen assets are released and sanctions are lifted, it will stand as a reminder that diplomacy often succeeds not because of public rhetoric but because of the patient and largely unseen efforts of skilled negotiators. Pakistan prevailed upon the interlocutors to see the bigger picture.
However, Pakistan’s contribution should not end with mediation. There are numerous inter-state disputes affecting the peace of the region. The new diplomatic opening gives Islamabad an opportunity to promote a broader vision for regional stability.
The Middle East and the wider Muslim world continue to face numerous security challenges, including interstate rivalries, proxy conflicts, terrorism, economic vulnerabilities and growing geopolitical competition between external powers.
Addressing these challenges requires a more comprehensive approach than crisis management alone. While Pakistan alone cannot play a role in the bilateral disputes, it can act as a mediator if the belligerents so require.
Pakistan is uniquely positioned to facilitate consultations between Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt and the Gulf states to develop a regional security framework. Such a mechanism need not necessarily resemble a formal military alliance. Instead, it could focus on conflict prevention, crisis management, economic cooperation, maritime security, counter-terrorism coordination and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, the regional states may choose a security architecture to prevent external interference. The goal should be to create a system where disputes are handled through dialogue rather than confrontation, and where collective prosperity becomes a stronger incentive than geopolitical competition.
The diplomatic success associated with the Iran-US understanding also offers a broader lesson for South Asia. Although it may seem unconventional in the current political climate, there would be nothing unusual in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognizing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s contribution to a diplomatic achievement that enhances regional and international stability, especially given that he has congratulated Iran and the United States on the signing of the peace agreement.
Such a gesture would not diminish India’s interests or stature. On the contrary, it would demonstrate confidence and statesmanship.
Modi should not forget that India and Pakistan remain nuclear neighbors whose futures are inextricably linked. While deep differences persist, opportunities to reduce tensions should not be ignored. Recognition of a constructive diplomatic effort could help break the ice between the two countries and reinforce the principle that cooperation for peace benefits the entire region.
Ultimately, the Iran-US agreement should not be seen as the end of a process, but as the beginning of a greater journey. A regional approach is the need of the hour. It takes effort to turn a diplomatic breakthrough into lasting peace. It will require vigilance against spoilers such as Israel, sustained political commitment by the parties involved, and a collective effort to build institutions capable of maintaining stability.
Pakistan’s role in promoting the dialogue demonstrates the enduring value of credible mediation, balanced diplomacy and professional statecraft. Pakistan has come a long way in highlighting its potential to not only contribute to crisis resolution, but also to the building of a more stable regional order. Opportunities to reshape history don’t come around often. The current moment is one of them. The region should seize it.
The author is a former ambassador of Pakistan to Iran and the UAE. He is also a former Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan and currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pakinomist.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
