The Country Nobody Expected to Save the Middle East

In a time when there are very few neutral intermediaries left in the world, Pakistan has emerged as a significant mediator between two of the strongest opponents in the contemporary Middle East War. Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is the Army Chief of Pakistan, is currently visiting China along with its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in order to brief the Chinese President Xi Jinping about their efforts at mediating peace, right after returning from Tehran where he was involved in intense discussions with Iranian officials.

Pakistan’s Remarkable Transformation

Less than a year ago, not many foreign policy experts would have predicted that Pakistan would be included on any list of reliable global mediators. But what happened was simply incredible, with the help of no less than the efforts made by Field Marshal Asim Munir, together with the strategic shift made by the Shehbaz Sharif government.

For instance, Pakistan has one of the unique diplomatic assets in its arsenal when it comes to being part of this particular diplomatic mission, since Islamabad is in good standing terms with both Tehran and Washington. Not only is Pakistan sharing its borders with Iran and has had historical and religious connections for centuries past, but at the same time, Pakistan managed to mend its fences with Washington, where Field Marshal Asim Munir was even invited to a private lunch hosted by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

The April Breakthrough

One of the most tangible diplomatic successes of Pakistan was held in April 2026, when Islamabad became a host city for the highest level of direct talks between the United States and Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. These meetings were headed on the US side by Vice President JD Vance along with the Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. In turn, the head of the Iranian delegation was the Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

This event became possible thanks to Field Marshal Asim Munir who personally received both delegations. During more than 21 exhausting hours of talks, the participants discussed possible ways of reaching the agreement that could ensure peace. Unfortunately, no progress was made. According to JD Vance, Iran had refused to give up on its plan to develop nuclear weapons. On the contrary, the representatives of the Islamic Republic stated that their US counterparts made unrealistic demands and failed to build mutual trust. As a result, the issue of the Strait of Hormuz was still open; even though it partially closed recently and threatened the global oil markets.

Nonetheless, this event had its undeniable value that could not be overestimated. Washington and Tehran sat across from each other in the same room, on Pakistani soil. That alone was a diplomatic feat no other country had managed to engineer.

Back to Work: Tehran, Then Beijing

However, Pakistan did not take the unfruitful April talks as the end of its mediation efforts; it took it as a comma, not a full stop.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, paid another visit to Iran last weekend, on May 23–24, along with FM Asim Munir. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with both men. Pakistan reiterated its willingness to help, found out about Iran’s new conditions, and made sure to keep the channels of communication open.

FM Asim Munir then proceeded directly from Tehran to Beijing where he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the meetings between the latter and Chinese President Xi Jinping. At the Great Hall of the People, while addressing Chinese leaders, Shehbaz Sharif declared quite boldly, “The world is going through a critical phase of its history. Pakistan had played its honest part to facilitate talks between Iran and the US. Field Marshal was present in Tehran and didn’t wish to miss out on this great visit. Things are progressing well.”

Shehbaz Sharif went on to thank China, stating, “I would like to thank China’s support to promote peace.”

The China Factor

China’s diplomatic involvement in the region remains low-key but no less important. The government has stated its intent to cooperate with Pakistan to “make positive contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East,” using diplomatic language that reflects support for a particular solution while leaving room for other outcomes.

China has reportedly been quietly facilitating talks between regional powers in the Gulf through phone calls and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. China has a great deal at stake in the stability of the Middle East economy-wise, and would love to have a chance to prove its role as a positive world player.

Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to Pakistan as a “strategic partner,” noting the “unbreakable friendship” between the two countries. This language holds significance because it means that Chinese endorsement adds weight to Pakistan’s claim to be a neutral mediator in the dispute, giving it more leverage in talks with both sides.

In light of all the above factors, the visit to China by Pakistani leaders appears to serve two goals: first, reporting on the situation in Iran and second, ensuring coordination between China and Pakistan in diplomacy efforts aimed at pressuring both parties to negotiate a solution.

Why Pakistan’s Mediation Matters

Several structural factors make Pakistan’s position uniquely sustainable:

Geography and proximity. Pakistan shares a border with Iran and sits at the crossroads of South Asia and the broader Middle East. It cannot afford a prolonged regional conflict — economically, in terms of refugee flows, or in terms of energy security.

Religious and cultural ties. Pakistan’s large Shia Muslim population and historical ties with Tehran give it a legitimacy in Iranian eyes that few other US-aligned states can claim.

Trust on both sides. Washington trusts Islamabad enough to send its Vice President for direct talks. Tehran trusts it enough to receive Pakistan’s army chief personally. That dual trust is exceptionally rare.

Military-led diplomacy. Field Marshal Asim Munir’s direct engagement has added momentum and continuity to Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach. His direct lines to Trump, Vance, and Iranian leadership allow rapid, credible communication.

The Road Ahead

The lack of success in the April talks was not the end of the extensive diplomatic framework that Pakistan had built up over the past years. Diplomacy has continued through indirect channels as Pakistan attempts to exchange information, understand positions, and build confidence to facilitate the next – and hopefully final – phase of direct negotiations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement that “things are moving in the right direction” should be understood correctly. It is neither an expression of triumph nor of hopelessness, but rather a statement made by a mediator who understands the amount of work yet to be done but who recognizes a way to move forward.

The recent Beijing talks create a new dimension to this diplomatic effort. An alliance between Pakistan and China, operating jointly to mediate the conflict – one country from the ground, another diplomatically and economically – provides a much stronger negotiation tool than each country would individually be able to achieve.

The international community is observing the progress. The conflict in the area, which has destabilized the entire region, affected international oil prices, strained the Strait of Hormuz, and brought multiple stakeholders to the point of confrontation requires precisely such diplomatic effort.

Islamabad has earned its seat at the table. Whether it can close the deal remains the defining diplomatic question of 2026.