Since the dawn of the 21st century, the Middle East has been going through a generational transformation. Countries have been diversifying, economically and socially, and striving to secure peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, Israel launched a genocide in Gaza with the support of Western countries. Israel, acting as a rogue state, attacked many countries in the region. Israel convinced the USA to attack Iran. Iran expanded the war, beginning to attack regional countries. This marked the beginning of the region’s destabilization, with consequential impacts on regional economies, social life, and security. It also has global implications through rising energy prices, climbing inflation, and threatens shortages of vital fertilizers and raw materials for new technologies. 

President Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization and the use of allies or proxies by Iran to attack regional countries further aggravated the situation. President Trump’s threat brought the world to the brink of a nuclear war. It put the world on alert, as it is common knowledge that the impacts never remain confined to geographical boundaries.

It was a critical moment for the Middle East, and the world feared anything could happen at any time. Unfortunately, no one was ready or in a position to ask President Trump and Iran to defuse the situation and, most importantly, to rethink and seek a peaceful solution to their differences. 

In this exhausted moment of history, Pakistan took the lead in finding a peaceful solution. Pakistan was fortunate to have support from brotherly countries Turkey, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan started with little hope, as the USA and Iran were on different planets. They stood at opposite poles in how they defined the reasons for the war and what they expected. Thus, Pakistan faced numerous setbacks in bringing them to the table, but it remained committed to finding a peaceful solution. Pakistani leadership, including civilian and military, became a shuttlecock. They ran relentlessly, touching every pole to build consensus. Field Marshal Asim Munir spent sleepless nights leading negotiations and backroom diplomacy. Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabian leadership stayed in constant contact, with foreign ministers moving from one country to another.      

At times, it felt like everything had fallen apart, and countries around the world lost hope that negotiations would not lead to a peaceful end to the war. However, Pakistan never lost hope, and Field Marshal Asim Munir continued to pursue a positive outcome. Brotherly countries Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman also remained determined to support Pakistani efforts. Moreover, China put its weight behind Pakistan and supported Pakistan through President Xi’s five-point proposal to end the war. Therefore, despite the challenges, Pakistan mediated the negotiation process and pulled off the Islamabad MoU. 

Unfortunately, right after the Islamabad MoU, both parties claimed victories and exaggerated their achievements, if any.  Self-glory and assumed greatness replaced rationality and objectivity. blame game and threats are at their peak. Therefore, the MoU could not hold for long, and war again broke out between the USA and Iran.

Iran continues to maintain strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz and allows only selective shipments. Iran is attacking the ships sailing the Strait of Hormuz, even in the waters of Oman. It is against the sovereignty of Oman, but Iran continues with this policy. Iran even attacked a gas shipment coming to Pakistan from Qatar. It is unfortunate, as Pakistan helped Iran in the most critical times of its history. Instead of being thankful to Pakistan, Iran is trying to complicate the energy problem for Pakistan. On the other hand, the USA is stubbornly continuing with the blockade of Iran. The USA is planning to further strangle the Iranian economy and punish the people of Iran. Punishing innocent people is against every law and moral value. The actions of both countries, and their stubbornness to follow their own proposals, have brought the region close to widespread war once again. 

Despite this dire situation, Pakistan and partner countries are still working to find a peaceful solution. This is acknowledged by both parties. The recent visits by Pakistani, Turkish, and Saudi delegations to Tehran were also part of these efforts.      

In this context, a natural question is: why did Pakistan jump into a mediation role, and why is Pakistan still working to find a peaceful solution? Despite its own challenges, including terrorism, border problems with Afghanistan and India, and an economic crisis, Pakistan is engaged in the process and trying to stop war permanently. To answer this question, a careful analysis of Pakistani foreign policy can help. 

Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on three core elements, as defined by the Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. First, friendliness and goodwill toward everyone. Pakistan does not believe in hostile relations or posing hostility against anyone. Pakistan wants to grow in a friendly environment and wishes others to flourish in the same way. Second, honesty and fairness in national and international affairs. All countries should be treated equally, with respect for their dignity and sovereignty, and fairness, not military or economic power.  No one has the right to ignore or bully anyone. 

Pakistan’s Role in the Middle East

By Shakeel Ahmad Ramay

Third, Pakistan’s foreign policy calls for promoting peace and prosperity worldwide. Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence and considers peace a basic human right for everyone, regardless of their race, color, economic or military power, etc. At the same time, Pakistan believes, practices, and advocates that development and prosperity are inalienable human rights of every individual. Everyone must be free to pursue economic linkages and explore development opportunities. In a nutshell, Pakistan believes that peace and development are inseparable and must be pursued simultaneously.  

These core elements are not policy rhetoric or a publicity stunt. Over the years, these core elements have shaped Pakistan’s policies and actions on the global stage. In pursuit of this policy, Pakistan has always promoted and advocated for sustainable peace, prosperity, respect for sovereignty, and the right to independence and to live freely. Pakistan has practiced this policy through its actions since the country’s creation. The most prominent examples are Algeria’s and Morocco’s freedom movements, South Africa’s fight against apartheid, and many others. Pakistan even provided its passports to Algerian freedom fighters to present their case at the UN. This antagonized France, and it still holds grudges against Pakistan.   Pakistan has remained at the forefront of UN peace efforts, including providing soldiers for peacekeeping, even in the most difficult regional situations. 

Pakistan is pursuing the same policy in the Middle Eastern region. However, beyond this policy, Pakistan has a special commitment to the Middle East and its countries, as the region is home to the holiest places of the Muslim Ummah, Makkah and Madina. It is part of every Muslim’s faith to visit and protect these places. Thus, it is natural for every Muslim Pakistani to prioritize security and peace in the region. Destabilization in the region, especially in the surroundings of Holy Places, can endanger the places, and terrorists or enemies of Islam can try to damage these places. Hence, Pakistan has long championed peace in the region. Pakistan has always stood for peace in the region, no matter the situation. Pakistan has supported the Palestinian cause for freedom since its creation, and even the Father of the Nation declared Israel an illegitimate child of the West. Pakistan is raising its voice for Palestine at all forums and confronting Israel openly at all diplomatic levels. 

Therefore, Pakistan’s efforts for peace are not only limited to mediation between the USA and Iran; Pakistan is playing a bigger role. For example, Pakistan is also a strong voice for peace in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Many in Pakistan consider that the major source of instability in these countries is proxy war. Therefore, Pakistan is a staunch opponent of proxy wars in the region and denounces every effort to support or promote proxies. 

In pursuance of this policy, in recent days, Pakistan has conveyed to Iran through backdoor channels that the Houthis should not be supported to destabilize Yemen or attack Saudi Arabia. It is a very sincere message and a serious effort. This is because the Houthis are not only posing regional challenges but are a serious threat to regional security and the global economy, as they are threatening to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. After that, we have observed a change in the Houthis’ stance; now they want to sit at the table for talks. Recently, the foreign minister of the rebel Houthis requested the government of Pakistan to mediate a deal between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia through a media appearance in Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan also denounces the deployment of proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, and other countries. 

Pakistan is against sectarian division and opposes any effort to strengthen or use sects as proxies to pursue geopolitical or national interests by any country. Pakistan believes and advocates that religious offices or places should not be used to cultivate proxies for achieving national interests. This weakens the image of Islam among the non-believers. 

Pakistan has also taken practical steps to counter and diffuse threats posed by proxies, non-state actors, external elements, and Israel. First, Pakistan signed a bilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia recently signed the trilateral Makkah Agreement on Joint Defense. It is important to highlight here that defense cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, or between Pakistan and Turkey, is not new. Pakistan has developed deep and all-weather cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Turkey over the years.           

In conclusion, we can draw one inference and one suggestion from the above discussion. The conclusion is that Pakistan’s foreign policy and commitment to the region and the Ummah are critical to defining and understanding Pakistan’s current role in mediating the Iran-US peace talks. The suggestion is that spiritual and religious leaders of Islam and sects must detach themselves from the political roles of any country or party. This is needed because modern states, including all Muslim countries, are national states, not Islamic states.  Therefore, involvement will create sectarian proxies, which would be disastrous for all.