By Uzma EhtashamThe world held its breath, and then, unexpectedly, exhaled. Just days after President Donald Trump’s chilling threat to “obliterate” Iranian civilization, followed by Iranian missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, a third world war seemed not merely possible but imminent. Fear gripped every capital. Markets convulsed. The language of diplomacy gave way to the grammar of annihilation. And yet, from the brink, a step back was coaxed – not by Washington or Tehran, but by Islamabad. It is a measure of our disoriented times that a nation often caricatured as unstable has emerged as the unexpected architect of restraint. Across the globe, from the corridors of the United Nations to the chanceries of Europe and Asia, an unusual chorus of praise is being directed at Pakistan, its prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and its chief of army staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Theirs, it is now widely acknowledged, was the steady hand that pulled the region back from the precipice.
Now, all eyes turn to Islamabad. On 11 April, Pakistan will host direct talks between the United States and Iran – a momentous development that only a fortnight ago would have seemed inconceivable. Should these negotiations succeed, and should they lay the groundwork for a lasting regional peace, Pakistan’s identity will be permanently reshaped: no longer merely a country of strategic depth and military might, but a nation of peacemakers, of interlocutors, of patient brokers in a violent world. It would, in the Muslim world and beyond, claim a distinctive and honorable leadership. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been measured but clear in his gratitude. In a lengthy telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, he offered congratulations on the ceasefire and thanked both Tehran and Washington for agreeing to talks on Pakistani soil. President Pezeshkian, for his part, confirmed that Iran’s delegation – led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Speaker of Parliament – will attend.
The American team, confirmed by President Trump himself, will be headed by Vice-President Vance. It is a remarkable tableau: two adversaries, so close to war, sitting down in a capital often dismissed as peripheral. Sharif has been careful to share credit, rightly praising President Asif Ali Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Munir, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for their roles in what he called the enhancement of national dignity. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has added his voice, commending Pakistan’s role and noting that bilateral dialogue is the only path to a durable resolution. Australia, Indonesia, Egypt and Japan have followed suit. More movingly, perhaps, ordinary citizens in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Baghdad have taken to the streets – holding green crescent flags, celebrating the ceasefire, and offering thanks to a nation not traditionally seen as a harbinger of joy.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey have also been acknowledged by the prime minister for their supportive roles. Meanwhile, a joint statement from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Spain, the European Council and the European Commission has formally thanked Pakistan and its partners. China, too, has welcomed the truce. This is not mere diplomatic courtesies. It is a rare, near-universal recognition that a major conflict has been averted – and that one country made the difference. There is, too, a domestic lesson here that ought not to be ignored. Just as Pakistan’s diplomatic corps and military leadership showed agility and foresight in the face of external crisis, so must the government show similar resolve in confronting the country’s internal emergencies. The same week that saw global oil prices fall from $114 to $94 a barrel – easing inflationary pressures worldwide – also saw Pakistani families struggling to afford bread, school fees and medicine.
The stock markets may have steadied, but the economy remains dangerously fragile. It is a truth that should trouble every citizen: the same strategic wisdom that saved the region from war has not yet been applied to saving Pakistanis from penury. Inflation, unemployment, debt, industrial stagnation – these are enemies no less lethal than missiles. The government’s decision to declare Friday a “Day of Thanksgiving” is understandable, even commendable. But gratitude without action is hollow. The people need more than symbolism. They need a serious, credible, pro-poor economic strategy: tax reform, export promotion, industrial revival, and genuine investment in human capital. They need transparency and accountability. They need governance that does not collapse at the first sign of strain. Above all, they need immediate relief. The sharp decline in global petroleum prices must be passed on to consumers without delay.
A substantial, visible reduction in fuel prices would send a powerful signal that the same capable hands managing foreign policy are also capable of managing the cost of living. It would transform thanksgiving into tangible trust. Let us not mistake this moment for a final triumph. It is, at best, a beginning. Pakistan has shown the world a face it rarely shows itself: patient, wise, and courageous in the service of peace. But the true measure of leadership is not how well it handles a crisis, but how well it builds on the calm that follows. The world is watching the talks in Islamabad. Pakistanis are watching their own government. Both deserve answers.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
