Pakistan Positions Itself as Peacemaker as US and Iran Circle the Negotiating Table
March 27, 2026 07:42 AM IST

Pakistan Positions Itself as Peacemaker as US and Iran Circle the Negotiating Table

Desk Correspondent , Islamabad - With the Iran US war now in its fourth week and the Strait of Hormuz under blockade, a quiet diplomatic drama is unfolding thousands of kilometres from the front lines in the Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Reports from multiple international outlets suggest that Pakistan is actively seeking to broker a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, potentially hosting face-to-face talks between senior officials from both sides. The White House has not confirmed the meeting and has remained silent, even though it could be one of the most important diplomatic events of the year.

Pakistan is reportedly stepping up as a key mediator in the ongoing crisis. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded cautiously to media queries, stressing the "sensitivity" of diplomatic discussions, “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press.” She added, “This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced” a classic non-answer that avoids confirmation or denial. Behind the scenes, Pakistan is pushing hard diplomatically. 

PM Shehbaz Sharif confirmed a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while sources say Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Asim Munir spoke with President Trump on Sunday. Reuters and the Times of Israel report a possible US delegation including VP Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner meeting Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in Tehran. Trump claimed Monday that Iran was "eager for a deal," citing prior talks by Kushner and Witkoff with an unnamed Iranian leader. Qalibaf rejected this outright, insisting no negotiations occurred.

Whether or not Islamabad becomes the venue for a historic breakthrough, the conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran reveal the deep mistrust any peace process must overcome. What is clear is that both sides are being pressed by a world that cannot afford a prolonged war at the heart of global energy supply. As Leavitt herself put it, "This is a fluid situation." The world is watching, and waiting.

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