Why is Pakistan involved in efforts to stop the war in Iran?

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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the US to try to secure talks to end their war in the Gulf.

On March 26, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed Islamabad was involved, saying “US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan”.

“Pakistan has strong credentials as the only country in the region enjoying good relations with the US and Iran,” said Mr Asif Durrani, the country’s former ambassador to Tehran.

“Concurrently, it enjoys strategic relations with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Turkiye,” he told AFP, using Turkey’s official name.

What has Pakistan said about the war?

Pakistan has avoided taking sides and tried instead to maintain stable relations with all parties.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned both the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Tehran’s retaliation against its neighbours.

He and Mr Dar have both been busy, talking to senior Iranian government ministers and regional leaders.

Pakistan “has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said.

What are Pakistan’s ties to Iran?

Pakistan shares a 900km border in its south-west with Iran, and also deep historical, cultural and religious links.

Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after its independence in 1947. Pakistan returned the favour after the 1979 revolution.

They cooperated against Moscow during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Cross-border militant activity in the Balochistan region is a concern for both.

But Pakistan also represents some Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington, where Tehran has no embassy.

It is home to the world’s second-largest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

How about the US?

Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir has built a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump and spoke to him on March 22.

Mr Munir – in a Western business suit rather than army fatigues – visited Washington with Mr Sharif in 2025 after a flare-up in hostilities between Pakistan and India in divided Kashmir.

Mr Sharif praised Mr Trump’s “bold and visionary” intervention, while Mr Munir said the US leader deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping an escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

On Iran, Mr Trump said Pakistan knows the country “better than most” and this week shared Mr Sharif’s X post that Pakistan was “ready” to host talks to end the conflict.

Personal relations have long helped boost bilateral ties shaped by shifting strategic interests.

But even as a non-NATO ally in the post-9/11 “war on terror”, Pakistan faced US claims that it was harbouring militants responsible for attacking coalition troops across the border in Afghanistan.

Relations were strained further when US troops killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in 2011 without telling Islamabad, and Pakistan faced accusations of complicity in harbouring the fugitive.

Saudis and Shia

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic mutual defence agreement in 2025, cementing longstanding ties but also restricting how far Islamabad can go in supporting Tehran.

Mr Sharif and his government have been quick to keep Riyadh on side, and he recently visited for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

If Pakistan were seen as aligning itself against Iran, that would risk angering the country’s Shia population, who have already held deadly protests against Mr Khamenei’s death.

What’s in it for Pakistan?

Neutrality makes economic sense for Pakistan, which relies on oil and gas imports through the Strait of Hormuz. Continued disruption could worsen fuel supplies, drive up prices and force further austerity measures.

“Pakistan, being located right on the war’s doorstep, clearly would prefer to take steps meant to help end the war, and not get dragged into it,” South Asia expert Michael Kugelman posted on X this week.

An end to the conflict would not only boost regional stability and security but also Pakistan’s international standing. AFP