There have been envious comments by some Indians about Pakistan having taken centre-stage in the peace negotiations to be held between the US and Iran. In contrast, the comment by External Minister S Jaishankar that India is not ‘a broker country like Pakistan’ was a bit harsh. What he probably meant was that Pakistan is more a tool in the hands of the US than an independent player, or even initiator of the proposed meet.
Subsequent events have vindicated this belief. The draft provided by the US of what the Pakistan Prime Minister would say was inadvertently leaked on X, exposing how much autonomy the ‘mediator’ really has. Pakistan has always served as a useful tool for the US government and, in the times of PM Shehbaz Sharif and ‘Field Marshal’ Asim Munir, the servile role being played is evident to all.
However, there can be no objections to the peace process, if it works. Even a squirrel can contribute to a righteous cause, as acknowledged by Lord Ram. While, for the world the objective is peace and a return to normalcy in the Strait of Hormuz, for US President Trump it is more about getting out of the hole he has dug for himself. He can change tack on the spin of a coin and go all guns blazing if he thinks that will help him improve his position at home. As such, Pakistan and whoever else is involved in the mediation will require to keep matters on the right track.
This is particularly so as the third party in the conflict, Israel, wishes to raise the stakes further. The attack on Iran was merely a continuation of the war it is fighting against Iran backed proxies. This is why it launched one of its biggest attacks on Lebanon after announcement of the ‘ceasefire’. Pakistan claims Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement. Unfortunately, an anti-sematic rant by Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has surfaced that Israel is unlikely to overlook. It is a clear indication of the fact that Pakistan is by no means ‘neutral’ to the extent required for balanced negotiation.
And it is not as if other nations are not working to bring a quick end to the conflict. The traditional allies of the US are not only attempting to restrain Donald Trump, but also providing Iran the opportunity to engage positively with the global community. India too is doing its part, with its ministers and emissaries strengthening bonds with the Gulf nations. This is not the time to worry about who gets the credit. Maybe, as some have suggested, Sharif could be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeds. That would put him directly in President Trump’s crosshairs.
