The US and Iran have signed an agreement to end the war and restore peace. While acting as a mediator between the two warring parties, Pakistan played a crucial role in bringing about this agreement. Although the peace is beneficial for all states, given the economic toll of rising oil prices, this article talks about the emerging role of Pakistan at the international stage. In the contemporary multipolar world, this achievement marks the diplomatic weight of middle powers such as Pakistan. The agreement, called Islamabad MOU, should not be viewed as an isolated feat, but a broader shift towards multipolarity, where the middle powers will have leverage to influence rival states.
Throughout its history, Pakistan has been known for its peace-promoting efforts and bringing rivals together. For instance, in 1971, at the height of the Cold War, Islamabad helped bridge ties between China and the US. It ended diplomatic isolation of China thus influenced the balance of power in that era. Additionally, Pakistan played a key role in the 1988 Geneva accord, which paved the way for the withdrawal of USSR’s forces and the end of nine years of war in Afghanistan. Based on this legacy, it can be argued that Pakistan has grown into an intermediary of significant interaction.
With the rise of China and the resurgence of Russia, the US unipolarity started to wane. This declining US hegemony created space for the middle powers to play an active role in the international politics. The necessity of middle powers accelerated because power started to disperse at the global level, and the great powers needed alliances. As stated by Evelyn Goh that middle powers become more influential during great-power rivalry because they can act as bridge-builders, providing stability, between competing major powers.
In the post-Cold war unipolar world, Washington’s undisputed military power, diplomatic reach, and institutional legitimacy enabled it to have direct engagements with both allies and rivals. For example, Strategic arms control with Russia and negotiations over China’s integration into the global economy highlighted how great powers relied less on the intermediation of middle powers in the Unipolar era. It does not mean that the role of middle powers faded entirely, but in the great power-to-great-power equation, their role became limited and only on regional security issues. In the unipolar era, Islamabad was viewed as a partner in relation to Afghanistan and issues like counter terrorism.
As the conflict of the US and Israel against Iran began, an opportunity emerged for the middle powers to play an active role to bring about peace. Countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia called for restraint and sought to prevent the escalation. However, their ability to act as effective intermediaries was constrained by their close security ties with the US. Moreover, the presence of the US military bases in their territories and Iran’s retaliatory strikes against those assets created complications. Although Doha remained a key diplomatic actor, Tehran had enough reasons to question their neutrality. This situation created a demand for a new neutral intermediary.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan assumed the role of a neutral actor. As one scholar notes, successful mediation requires more than just access to disputants; the mediator must also possess credibility and acceptability in the eyes of all parties. Like KSA and Qatar, Pakistan had access to both the disputants, but unlike them, Pakistan was more credible and trustworthy to Iran because no attack on Iran had originated from Pakistani soil. Because of Islamabad’s shuttle diplomacy, Tehran and Washington agreed on a temporary 2 weeks ceasefire and their representatives met in Islamabad.
Nevertheless, Iran and US failed to achieve a mutually acceptable peace agreement. The US imposed a naval blockade against Iran, and strikes resumed. However, Pakistan leadership, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief, continued to keep the diplomatic channels open between the disputants. As William Zartman observed, successful conflict management often depends on maintaining communication during deadlocks. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s two official visits to Iran for high level talks, while staying in touch with the US leadership, ensured that diplomatic mechanisms remained intact. This bridge-building effort finally bore fruits in the form a recently announced MOU between Iran and the US, winning Islamabad credit from the international community for its remarkable diplomatic role.
In the contemporary multipolar world, where there is no power concentration, this diplomatic achievement is significant for a middle powers like Pakistan. It shows Islamabad’s legitimacy in the eyes of multiple actors, Iran, the Gulf states, and great powers like China, Russia, and the US. It can be argued that Pakistan emerged as a major stability provider and an influential player in the region. More importantly, it highlights how middle powers can increase their influence not only through military or economic muscle, but by acting as a trusted intermediary, facilitating dialogue, and providing diplomatic connectivity to rival states. To sum up, in 1971, Pakistan helped break the ice between China and the US. Likewise, in 2026, Pakistan facilitated the negotiation between Iran and the US. Whether this agreement brings lasting peace remains to be seen, but Islamabad has gained international prestige and legitimacy. Unlike the unipolar era, where middle powers had a limited role to play in a multipolar world, the relevance of middle powers has increased. In this context, middle powers will have greater influence because of their ability to connect rivals.
Muhammad Kumail Mehdi is a Research Assistant at the Center for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad.
