As Pakistan grapples with heightened conflict with the Taliban-led Afghanistan, diplomatic efforts have shifted towards Iran for mediation. Previous attempts to resolve the dispute through Qatari and Turkish channels have reportedly faltered, leaving Pakistan looking to Tehran as its primary hope for peace. This development follows a pattern of border skirmishes that have exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s military and diplomatic strategies.
Sources suggest that Pakistan’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, first sought the intervention of Qatar’s Amir and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to broker peace with the Afghan Taliban. When these initiatives did not progress, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian stepped forward, offering Tehran’s services as a mediator. He highlighted the importance of solidarity among Muslim states and called for de-escalation, stating Iran’s commitment to fostering dialogue.
A widely shared video clip from an Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Tehran captured Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi engaging with Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Ibrahim Sadr. The footage appeared to show Naqvi earnestly seeking peace assurances, while the Afghan official seemed indifferent, reflecting the complexities of the diplomatic engagement.
Geopolitical observers believe Iran’s potential role as mediator is strategically positioned. Its extensive borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, coupled with its influence over the Hazara community and some segments of the Taliban, give it significant leverage. Iran’s interests in regional connectivity, including the Chabahar port, further enhance its diplomatic standing.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is confronting a precarious internal security situation. The nation’s Defense Minister has issued strong statements regarding potential retaliation against Afghan soil but also conceded to substantial casualties, with over 4,000 soldiers fallen to insurgents. Disturbing images depicting Pakistani forces patrolling vulnerable areas like Balochistan in tanks, seemingly in response to local insurgent threats, have surfaced, illustrating the deep-seated insecurity within Pakistan’s borders, even as its officials project a defiant exterior.