Key Points:
- Pakistan’s envoy tells Fox News crisis highly complex with political, economic, and regional dimensions
- He sees ceasfire as essential first step toward structured negotiations
- Reiterates strong stance on cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran, positioning its peace endeavour as critical to stabilising a rapidly deteriorating regional security environment.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Shaikh, said Islamabad’s role is rooted in broader regional interest and stakeholders’ trust.
“Both sides (Iran and the US) have expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to help create conditions for dialogue, Pakistani Ambassador told the leading US news channel, Fox News.
Shaikh said a ceasefire would be a crucial first step toward initiating structured negotiations, while cautioning that progress would require time and sustained engagement.
The envoy described the crisis as highly complex, shaped by overlapping political, economic, and strategic factors. He also cautioned that any diplomatic breakthrough would require time and sustained engagement.
Pakistan, he said, is actively engaged at multiple levels, from top political leadership to institutional channels. “These efforts are aiming to build a conducive setting for negotiations,” he added.
Pakistan’s facilitation role is driven by goodwill and supported by other regional stakeholders, he maintained.
The interview was conducted against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East, where tensions continue to ripple across key global energy corridors.
Hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and consequent disruptions have heightened concerns about the global supply chain and broader economic fallout.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic tradition, the Ambassador recalled his country’s historical role in enabling the China–United States rapprochement in the early 1970s. Islamabad is trying to utilise that experience to bridge deep geopolitical divides at present, he underscored.
“Diplomacy remains a gradual process,” he noted, warning against expectations of quick results.
A cessation of hostilities, he noted, would be a necessary starting point to unlock substantive negotiations.
Pakistan is committed to providing all possible facilitation for meaningful dialogue, he said, adding that the responsibility for decisions ultimately rests with the conflicting parties themselves.
Beyond the US-Iran dimension, the envoy acknowledged that the situation is further complicated by broader regional volatility, including security threats in adjoining theatres, which risk undermining diplomatic momentum.
On Afghanistan, he reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance on cross-border militancy. “Islamabad had repeatedly shared intelligence on militant sanctuaries but was compelled to act after a lack of response from Afghan authorities,” he maintained.
Describing Pakistan as one of the worst-affected countries by terrorism, he said the state could not sit back and wait for further attacks. “There was clear evidence of external support for anti-Pakistan militant activity,” he added.
Ambassador Sheikh also alleged Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan, saying evidence exists to substantiate the claim.
Despite the layered challenges, the Ambassador expressed cautious optimism, saying Pakistan remains committed to advancing dialogue and diplomacy. “Dialogue is the only viable path toward de-escalation in an increasingly volatile region,” he stressed.
