Pakistan’s diplomatic success

DESPITE all the concerns, obstacles and the boycott of the meeting, the negotiating delegations managed to sit together and hold a lengthy session, thereby securing the future of the negotiations. It is quite clear that Israel does not want these negotiations, especially at a stage when Iran’s position is relatively strong. Pakistan had realized that as long as Netanyahu remained in the middle of the process, a settlement would not be possible. However, separating Netanyahu from the United States and its decision-making process appeared to be nearly impossible. Historically, the United States has never concluded an agreement by setting aside Israel’s advice or, rather, its interests. Yet this became possible through the efforts of General Asim Munir, who convinced President Trump that supporting Israel under the current circumstances was not in anyone’s interest and could jeopardize global peace. President Trump’s confidence in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir proved helpful throughout this process, a fact that was openly acknowledged by the US official in Switzerland. If examined closely, Pakistan’s mediation made several seemingly impossible developments possible on this sensitive issue: consensus between Iran’s hardline and moderate factions regarding the agreement, a ceasefire between Iran and the United States and a historic decline in Israel-US relations. For the first time, an American Administration made decisions while disregarding the influence of the Jewish lobby. The recent ceasefire and negotiation process between the United States and Iran is being viewed as an important diplomatic success for Pakistan. Pakistan not only acted as a messenger between the parties but also assisted in preparing various ceasefire drafts and proposals. Rather than siding with any one party, Pakistan adopted a policy of dialogue and diplomacy, which enabled it to be accepted as a credible mediator. From an analytical perspective, Pakistan has sent a messa