New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) In an unexpected twist, Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator in the intensifying US-Iran conflict, utilizing its diplomatic relationships, as reported. However, its protracted war with Afghanistan remains unresolved, despite multiple mediation attempts from other regional nations.

Sources indicate that Islamabad is facilitating covert discussions between Washington and Tehran to prevent a larger regional conflict, which is now entering its fourth week.

US President Donald Trump has declared a temporary five-day halt in strikes targeting Iran's energy sector following 'productive' indirect diplomacy facilitated by Pakistan, along with Turkiye and Egypt.

With this move, Islamabad seeks to establish itself as the primary intermediary, proposing to host direct negotiations involving senior officials from both the US and Iran.

Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, has taken advantage of his improving relations with the White House and Pakistan's historical connections with regional powers like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkiye to spearhead this initiative.

The urgency from Islamabad is largely driven by a desire to bolster its global standing in light of recent controversies, while also seeking economic leverage amidst the turmoil in the Middle East.

Pakistan's desire to mediate in the US-Iran conflict, despite its ongoing struggles with Afghanistan, arises from pressing strategic, economic, and reputational imperatives.

This initiative allows Islamabad to present itself as a responsible global actor amid domestic and regional crises.

General Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have portrayed Islamabad as a neutral ground, garnering apparent approval from US President Donald Trump, in an effort to reclaim its relevance following conflicts with India, Iran, and now Afghanistan.

Pakistan aims to project itself as an 'indispensable' player, delivering messages under duress, even though no confirmed direct contact between the US and Iran has occurred yet.

Simultaneously, Pakistan has launched an 'open war' against Kabul, executing airstrikes on various Afghan cities, including the capital, resulting in numerous casualties.

Recently, over 400 individuals lost their lives in a bombing at a Kabul drug rehabilitation center. This conflict traces back to the contested over-2,600-km Durand Line border, which Afghanistan disputes as a colonial imposition on Pashtun territories.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban of neglecting their commitments made in Doha in 2021 to suppress terror factions purportedly operating from Afghan soil, prompting retaliatory measures such as airstrikes on suspected militant targets.

A brief clash in 2025 resulted in 17 civilian deaths before a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkiye in October, although hostilities resumed thereafter.

The deteriorating relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are rooted in deep-seated mistrust and sovereignty disputes, leading to hundreds of fatalities over recent weeks.

Thus, Pakistan's role as a mediator in the Iran conflict—despite its Afghan predicament—highlights its desperate diplomatic maneuvering.

“Asim Munir, praised by President Trump as his ‘favorite field marshal’, recently orchestrated bombings in Afghanistan’s largest drug rehabilitation facility, claiming hundreds of lives,” noted geostrategist and author, Brahma Chellaney, on Facebook.

The Kabul hospital bombing undoubtedly stained Islamabad’s reputation, prompting a diplomatic makeover through high-stakes mediation to mitigate backlash and assert its significance.

“Under Munir’s military leadership, Pakistan conducted high-profile strikes against Iran in January 2024,” Chellaney reminded.

Now, while Islamabad dismisses third-party solutions for its border issues, it positions itself as a neutral facilitator for US-Iran discussions. Successful mediation could provide Pakistan—currently grappling with separatist movements, political instability, and economic challenges—with essential aid, trade agreements, and sanctions relief, all critical amidst internal strife and FATF grey-listing for terror financing.

However, “Communicating Trump’s 15-point strategy—insisting that Iran concede at the negotiation table what it has resisted on the battlefield—will likely undermine Munir’s credibility with Tehran,” cautioned the expert.

This Catch-22 scenario presents risks of overextension. Increased strikes in Afghanistan coincided with the escalation of hostilities in Iran, suggesting that a divided focus could weaken Pakistan's standing.

Regionally, this widens security threats, while energy disruptions from Iran pose risks to Pakistan's economy. Success in Iran could enhance leverage against Kabul, but failure may isolate Islamabad even further.