By Uzma Ehtasham
The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have now passed the one-month mark, yet the bloodshed shows no sign of abating. Far from being a contained conflict, this violence is dragging not only the region but the entire world into a quagmire of instability. Once again, the world is being scorched by the flames of war. The waters of the Gulf are stained with blood, the skies are choked with smoke, and fear is seeping into the very arteries of the global economy. On one side stands American hubris, a superpower convinced of its military supremacy as the ultimate arbiter of truth.
On the other stands Iran’s resolute defiance, fuelled by centuries of history and an unyielding sense of national pride. Trapped between these two titans, the world’s economy and its fragile peace are being crushed. At the time of writing, there is little sign of any significant shift. The primary reason is the absence of any concrete action to restrain the malign influence of certain powers, with the United States offering its full-throated support to those fanning the flames. In this most painful of contexts, one country has emerged as a crucial player on the international stage: Pakistan.
It is in this capacity that Islamabad recently hosted the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt – Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Hakan Fidan, and Dr Badr Abdelatty respectively – in a meeting convened by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar. This four-nation gathering focused on the escalating tensions in the region and the pressing need for a ceasefire, with discussions centred on the imperative of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability. Prior to this important meeting, Ishaq Dar was also in contact with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
Both leaders affirmed that negotiation and diplomacy represent the only effective path to a lasting peace, and they discussed the four-nation ministerial meeting as part of broader efforts to halt the war. The assembled ministers conducted a detailed review of the regional situation, emphasising the urgent need to end the conflict, reiterating their shared conviction that dialogue and diplomacy are the solutions. Speaking at a news briefing after the meeting, Ishaq Dar noted with satisfaction that both Iran and the United States had placed their trust in Pakistan. During the same period, Dar also held detailed telephone conversations with China’s foreign minister.
The visiting Saudi, Turkish, and Egyptian dignitaries also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House for comprehensive discussions on the regional situation. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia, commending the kingdom’s remarkable restraint amid recent tensions, and assured that Pakistan would always stand shoulder to shoulder with it. He briefed the Saudi foreign minister on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the current crisis, including attempts to de-escalate tensions and bring both the United States and Iran to the negotiating table. The Saudi minister, in turn, thanked the Prime Minister and shared Riyadh’s perspective on the regional situation.
In separate meetings with the Turkish and Egyptian ministers, the Prime Minister stressed that collective efforts were indispensable to ending the tensions, while both ministers briefed him on their respective countries’ views on the unfolding events in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Qatari news network Al Jazeera has reported that Pakistan is playing a significant diplomatic role in seeking an end to the ongoing hostilities involving Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Islamabad has become a hub for regional and global diplomacy, actively working to reduce the conflict between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other.
The report indicated that Iran has shown willingness to send a diplomatic representative to talks who could engage in direct negotiations. The activities unfolding in Islamabad could prove to be a crucial development towards establishing peace in the region. On the other side of the equation, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing for potential ground operations against Iran, though President Donald Trump has yet to give final approval. According to a report in the Washington Post, these plans may involve limited operations rather than all-out war, including the use of special forces and infantry, with potential targets including Iranian military installations near the Strait of Hormuz and the key oil hub of Kharg Island.
US naval forces have already been deployed to the region for this purpose, though internal disagreements persist within the US administration. Some officials argue that objectives could be achieved without a ground incursion. Experts, however, warn that any such adventure risks prolonging the war and leading to profoundly complex consequences. The policies of the Trump administration amount not merely to a campaign against one nation, but to an assault on the very fabric of the international order.
Continuing military preparations while speaking of negotiations, and treating threats as a substitute for diplomacy, is the logical outcome of a mindset that sees power only through the barrel of a gun. The United States seeks a temporary month-long ceasefire to allow for talks on a fifteen-point agreement with Iran, even as it deploys an additional 3,000 troops to the region. Such an approach reveals that Washington views peace not
(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)
