ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as a central player in a high-stakes diplomatic “shuttle” mission to avert a massive escalation in the Middle East.
According to news agency working alongside Turkey and Egypt, Islamabad is currently conveying urgent messages between Washington and Tehran to prevent planned U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
President Donald Trump has issued a definitive 48-hour deadline for Iran to “fully open” the Strait of Hormuz without threat. Failure to comply, according to White House statements, will result in U.S. strikes targeting Iranian power plants and energy grids.
Sources indicate that senior officials from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt held separate, intensive talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over the last 48 hours.
Following these interventions, President Trump announced today that he would postpone certain military strikes, citing “productive conversations” facilitated by these intermediaries. However, Tehran’s Fars News Agency has publicly dispd the claim of direct progress, maintaining a stance of “no direct communication.”
Despite a Mutual Defense Pact signed with Saudi Arabia in late 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has maintained a policy of “limited alignment.” Pakistan has ruled out military participation in any anti-Iran campaign while condemning attacks on regional energy installations.
Islamabad’s mediation is fueled by domestic volatility. Anti-U.S. protests in Karachi and other cities have already turned deadly, and the government remains wary of a refugee crisis or spillover from its “open war” with Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Navy launched Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr on March 9 to protect shipping lanes, signaling that while it seeks peace, it is prepared to secure its own economic interests in the Gulf.
While the mediation has provided a temporary breather, the “48-hour clock” remains the primary focus of global markets. Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel, and investors are bracing for the expiration of the ultimatum tonight.
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