Pakistan’s “Unlikely” Role in Mediating the U.S.-Israeli War with Iran

As the Iran war continues, Pakistan has stepped forward with an unexpected offer: to serve as a mediator between these long-standing adversaries. Through a series of diplomatic meetings and backchannel communications, Islamabad has attempted to facilitate dialogue and explore pathways toward deescalation. Whether Pakistan can translate its diplomatic positioning into meaningful negotiations remains an open question.

In late March, foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey met in Islamabad to prevent further escalation and negotiate a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The meeting marks the second time regional leaders had gathered to discuss deescalation, following the earlier discussions in Riyadh in March. 

Pakistan’s officials have reportedly been in communication with both the United States and Iran and have carried messages between the two sides. Islamabad has also offered to host direct peace talks between both nations. 

The United States used Pakistan as an intermediary to present Iran with a 15 point plan to end the war. Iran reportedly rejected the proposal. Following the Islamabad meeting among regional powers, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Beijing to meet with China to further attempts at mediation. Together, these two countries announced a five point initiative focused on an immediate ceasefire, peace negotiations, and safeguarding commercial shipping routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.

Although NATO and several European allies have distanced themselves from the war, Pakistan has emerged as what some observers describe as an "unlikely mediator.” Pakistan has important ties with key actors on multiple sides, including countries in the Middle East, such as Iran, and global powers, such as China. These relationships give Pakistan a potential role as an intermediary capable of communicating with actors who may not be willing to engage directly with one another.

Relations between Pakistan and the United States have also seen renewed attention during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. When President Trump claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following conflict last May, Pakistan, unlike India, did not dispute this claim, and instead nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Pakistan has also joined his Board of Peace. Such gestures reflect Pakistan’s interest in maintaining constructive relations with Washington at a time when diplomatic cooperation could prove useful.

Pakistan’s previous experience with mediation may indicate how these talks will progress.

Pakistan’s role in mediation between adversaries has Cold War roots. In 1969, President Richard Nixon approached Pakistan’s President Yahya Khan to help the United States normalize relations with China. Pakistan, having relations with both the United States and China, carried messages between Washington and Beijing for two years before helping facilitate Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in 1971, an event that paved the way for the normalization of U.S.-China relations.

Pakistan needs this war to end.

Like many other countries, Pakistan is reliant on the safe passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The initial meeting in Islamabad led to an Iranian agreement to allow two Pakistani ships a day to cross the Strait of Hormuz, but this has not been enough to offset the country’s rising energy crisis from the start of the war.

Beyond economic concerns, the war in Iran has the potential to further regional instability. Pakistan’s role as a peace mediator comes at a time when it is already in conflict with two of its other neighbors, Afghanistan and India. There are also concerns that Pakistan could be pulled into the conflict. In September 2025, Pakistan signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia under which an attack on one country could be treated as an attack on both. If Saudi Arabia were to enter the war alongside the United States and Israel, Pakistan could face pressure to become involved as well.

At the same time, successful mediation between the United States and Iran could significantly enhance Pakistan’s diplomatic standing and potentially bolster its positioning in South Asia. While there are many reasons why attempts at a ceasefire and peace negotiations may fail, these reasons are largely out of Pakistan’s control. The United States and Iran have both been unclear and contradictory in signaling a desire for an end to this conflict. President Trump has set deadlines for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz while also threatening attacks on critical energy and civilian infrastructure. Iran has promised to increase attacks across the region in response, and negotiations have yet to be made to prevent this escalation.

Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach reflects both its strategic interests and its aspiration to play a larger role in regional diplomacy. Whether those efforts succeed will depend on decisions made in Washington and Tehran. For now, Pakistan remains an intermediary waiting to see whether the parties to the conflict are willing to pursue peace.