Pakistan Made the Impossible Possible Through ‘Quiet Diplomacy’: Path to Lasting Peace
The development has gained further attention after US President Donald Trump welcomed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, saying it demonstrated greater unity in the Middle East and the ability of countries to defend themselves more effectively.
Pakistan’s diplomatic challenge emerged after the escalation of tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran on February 28, 2026. At the time, the world was closely watching whether Pakistan would side with its neighbouring brotherly country Iran or risk damaging its relations with the United States.
Pakistan faced a difficult diplomatic balancing act, as it could neither abandon Iran nor afford to alienate Washington. The conflict also affected several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Pakistan maintained its diplomatic position and continued efforts to keep all sides engaged. The issue of protecting the Holy Mosques also emerged during the crisis, which Pakistan sought to address through diplomatic channels.
Islamabad Talks Bring Rivals Together
A significant development came on April 12, 2026, when Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and an Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad. A US delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, also travelled to Islamabad.
Pakistan facilitated what became known as the “Islamabad Talks”, bringing the two rival sides face-to-face after decades.
The negotiations continued for around 21 hours. Although no agreement was reached at the time, the US delegation acknowledged that meaningful discussions had taken place.
The US side thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and Pakistan for their hospitality and diplomatic facilitation.
Iranian officials also thanked Pakistan for playing an important role in facilitating the negotiations. Iranian leaders maintained that Tehran was prepared to pursue diplomacy while continuing to defend what it described as its national rights and interests.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Efforts Gain Momentum
The diplomatic process later produced another major development on June 18, 2026, when US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing as mediator.
Trump, who was visiting France at the time, once again thanked Pakistan and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the memorandum as a historic document and later spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by telephone for around 30 minutes following the signing.
The Islamabad Memorandum remains an important document in the diplomatic process between Washington and Tehran, while Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace continues to receive international attention.
Call for Lasting Peace
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan will continue working with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to strengthen the defense and security of the region.
He also praised President Trump’s role in helping avert what he described as a potential nuclear catastrophe in South Asia and said that millions of lives were saved as a result of timely diplomatic efforts.
The prime minister stressed that sustainable peace is the fundamental requirement for the prosperity, development and brighter future of people across the world.
With regional tensions still requiring diplomatic engagement, the message from Islamabad remains that the United States and Iran must return to the path of dialogue and lasting peace, while regional cooperation and diplomatic initiatives can provide a foundation for a more stable future.
