Pakistan maintains ‘delicate balancing act’ as it hosts Iran talks
Why it matters: A regional diplomatic push could avert a wider energy crisis and reshape Middle‑East power balances.
- Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar convened a four‑nation meeting in Islamabad to build a regional coalition for de‑escalation (Al Jazeera).
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt sent foreign ministers to Islamabad, signaling a unified regional push to curb the U.S.–Israel war on Iran (Al Jazeera).
- Iran agreed to let 20 Pakistani‑flagged vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz, a confidence‑building step that Tehran to pressure the U.S. (Al Jazeera).
- U.S. President Donald Trump extended his 10‑day deadline for Iran to reopen the strait and offered a 15‑point cease‑fire plan, which Tehran rejected in favor of broader security guarantees (news reports).
Pakistan has turned Islamabad into a diplomatic hub, bringing together Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran to try to defuse the U.S.–Israel‑Iran conflict that is choking the Strait of Hormuz. The talks aim to forge a regional bloc that could pressure Washington and Jerusalem while keeping oil flows steady.
