Pakistan pursues quiet diplomacy

KARACHI:

Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Pakistan has quietly intensified its behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement, with emerging signals suggesting that both sides are gradually showing willingness to move towards structured negotiations.

According to well-informed diplomatic sources, Pakistan is actively utilising backchannel contacts, alongside friendly countries, to create an environment of trust between Washington and Tehran, a necessary step before any formal dialogue can take shape.

These discreet efforts have begun yielding cautious optimism, with indications that progress is being made in defining a tentative timeframe for initiating direct talks between the two sides, long seen as a difficult diplomatic hurdle.

The sources suggest that Islamabad could potentially host the initial round of negotiations in the coming days, positioning Pakistan as a key facilitator and mediator in efforts aimed at preventing further escalation.

At the core of this diplomatic push is a carefully structured strategy being developed in coordination with allied nations, focused on resolving preliminary issues through quiet engagement before bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

Officials involved in the process are working to ensure that key initial points will be settled in advance, allowing any formal talks to begin on relatively stable footing rather than being derailed by immediate disagreements.

A central objective of this groundwork is to secure an initial ceasefire at the outset of negotiations, creating space for both sides to move towards a more durable and balanced agreement in subsequent phases.

Diplomatic circles remain cautiously hopeful that the momentum generated through these backchannel efforts could soon lead to a breakthrough, enabling direct engagement between the United States and Iran.