ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): Sardar Masood Khan, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China and the United Nations on Friday stated that Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic engagement has kept the possibility of dialogue between the United States and Iran alive, even as tensions escalate and contradictions in global signalling persist.
In series of TV interviews observed that recent statements by President Donald Trump may appear inconsistent, but they reflect a calculated strategy of pressure and persuasion.
“There is method in this approach,” he said, adding that Washington is simultaneously escalating military pressure while leaving the door open for negotiations, in order to compel Iran towards a favourable settlement.
Sardar Masood Khan noted that Iran, too, has demonstrated strategic restraint while maintaining its defensive posture. However, he emphasized that meaningful negotiations cannot begin in an environment marked by coercion, particularly in light of the ongoing naval blockade and heightened military deployments in the Gulf region. “Confidence-building measures are essential before formal talks can resume,” he stressed.
Highlighting Pakistan’s unique role, he said that Islamabad has emerged as a credible intermediary at a time when traditional actors such as the United Nations and key regional states are constrained. Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, he noted, has earned the trust of major global stakeholders, enabling it to facilitate backchannel communications and explore avenues for de-escalation.
He further underlined that Pakistan’s efforts are ongoing and multifaceted, involving both overt diplomacy and discreet engagement. “Even now, behind the scenes, Pakistan is working tirelessly to bring both sides back to the negotiating table,” he remarked, expressing cautious optimism about the prospects of a second phase of talks potentially being hosted in Islamabad.
At the same time, he cautioned that the situation remains highly sensitive. Domestic political pressures in both the United States and Iran, coupled with regional dynamics and strategic calculations, continue to complicate the path to dialogue. He pointed out that while neither side desires a full-scale war, both are responding to internal constituencies and external pressures, particularly from regional actors.
Sardar Masood Khan concluded by stating that Pakistan must continue to balance its diplomatic engagement carefully, maintaining the confidence of both parties while leveraging international support. “This is a defining moment for diplomacy,” he said, adding that sustained efforts, patience, and political will are essential to transform the current fragile situation into a pathway for lasting peace.
