How Pakistan broker temporary truce between Iran and the United States

Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the United States and Iran — and their allies had — agreed to a ceasefire “everywhere” following mediation by his government.

Sharif said the two-week truce – which Trump and Tehran had announced earlier – would next lead to talks in the Pakistan capital.

“Pakistan achieved one of its biggest diplomatic wins in years,” said South Asia expert Michael Kugelman in an X post.

“It also defied many skeptics and naysayers that didn’t think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high stakes feat.”

– What are Pakistan’s ties to Iran? –

“Pakistan has strong credentials as the only country in the region enjoying good relations with the US and Iran,” said the country’s former ambassador to Tehran, Asif Durrani.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border in its southwest with Iran, and also deep historical, cultural and religious links.

Pakistan is home to the world’s second-biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after independence in 1947. Pakistan returned the favour for the Islamic republic after the 1979 revolution.

Pakistan also represents some Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington, where Tehran has no embassy.

– How about the US? –

Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has built up a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump.

Munir — in a Western business suit rather than army fatigues — visited Washington with Sharif last year after a flare-up in hostilities between Pakistan and India in divided Kashmir.

Sharif praised Trump’s “bold and visionary” intervention, while Munir said the US leader deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping an escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

On Iran, Trump said Pakistan knows the country “better than most”.

Personal relations have long helped boost bilateral ties shaped by shifting strategic interests that have at times been strained.