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Pakistan is exploring ways to help revive stalled U.S.-Iran talks aimed at ending their nearly five-month-old conflict, according to three Pakistani sources, following a diplomatic initiative backed by China.
Exploratory discussions were held during Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni’s visit to Islamabad this week, his second trip to Pakistan in the past 10 days, the sources said.
The mediation effort comes as Pakistan faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act. Islamabad maintains close ties with Saudi Arabia, which signed a mutual defence treaty with Pakistan last year and remains a key financial partner. At the same time, Pakistan enjoys strong economic and strategic relations with China, which is keen to restore stability in the Middle East to safeguard regional trade routes.
The situation has become more complicated after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has condemned recent Houthi attacks on the kingdom, making any perceived tilt toward Iran diplomatically sensitive.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the Middle East initiative with Chinese officials during his visit to China last week, the sources said.
“The Chinese are concerned because Iran’s actions against Gulf states and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are affecting their interests,” one Pakistani government official said, adding that instability in the Red Sea also threatens key trade routes important to Beijing.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it supports mediation efforts by Pakistan and other parties and pledged to continue playing “an active role” in helping restore peace and stability in the Gulf region.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and military did not immediately comment on the reported diplomatic initiative.
