Kamran Khan@AajKamranKhan
PAKISTAN IS THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUR
FIELD MARTIAL ASIM MUNIR IS THE LEADER OF THE HOUR
Pakistan is positioning itself as the lead mediator trying to broker an end to the US’s and Israel’s war against Iran, using its military strongman’s ties to Tehran and warm relationship with Donald Trump.
Army chief Asim Munir spoke with Trump on Sunday, according to two people briefed on the call, while Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.
The conversation between the Pakistani and Iranian leaders came at around the same time as Trump announced that he was delaying his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants after “very good and productive” conversations with Tehran to end the war.
It was not clear if Pakistan’s mediation push and Trump’s post on his Truth Social social media platform, which caused oil prices to fall sharply, were related. The White House declined to elaborate on Trump negotiations. “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media,” the White House said.
Turkey, which was involved in mediation efforts before the war, has also been talking to Iranian officials and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. Pakistan’s foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday. Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke to his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on Sunday, as well as Witkoff and Qatar’s foreign minister.
