Former ambassador to United States, China and United Nations, and former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan here on Friday has hailed Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic efforts as a historic breakthrough, stating that the country has set a new global benchmark in peacemaking by facilitating direct engagement between the United States and Iran during one of the most dangerous conflicts in recent history.
\nIn an op-ed titled \u201cPakistan\u2019s mediation: A catalyst for peace\u201d written by Ambassador Masood Khan and published by Al Jazeera Arabic, he described the moment as unprecedented and noted that the eyes of the world are now firmly fixed on Pakistan.
\n\u201cI do not recall any such responsibility being entrusted to a country in the history of diplomacy,\u201d he remarked, emphasizing that Pakistan\u2019s swift and sustained engagement from the very onset of the conflict transformed what seemed an impossible task into a tangible achievement.
\nHe commended the leadership of Pakistan, including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for their coordinated and tireless efforts. Through intensive shuttle diplomacy and continuous high-level contacts across global capitals, Pakistan succeeded in creating the conditions necessary for a ceasefire and, crucially, for direct, face-to-face negotiations between Washington and Tehran\u2014an outcome not witnessed at this level in decades.
\nAmbassador Khan highlighted three major successes: the establishment of a ceasefire framework, Islamabad\u2019s emergence as a trusted venue for dialogue, and the facilitation of direct engagement between the two adversaries. He noted that this development marks a significant departure from past indirect negotiations, opening a new pathway for substantive diplomacy.
\nHowever, he cautioned that the road ahead remains complex. The negotiating agenda includes critical and sensitive issues such as guarantees of non-aggression, a permanent ceasefire, the future governance of the Strait of Hormuz, withdrawal of foreign forces, lifting of sanctions, and questions of war reparations. These issues, he observed, reflect deeply entrenched positions on both sides.
\nDespite these challenges, Ambassador Khan expressed cautious optimism that a middle ground could be found. Both the United States and Iran, he noted, are under significant strategic and domestic pressure\u2014creating incentives for compromise.
\nHe emphasized that Pakistan\u2019s role will remain that of a neutral facilitator, focused on building trust, ensuring security, and guiding the process toward incremental progress.
\nHe further underscored that Pakistan is not acting alone but enjoys the support of key regional and global partners, including Gulf states, China, Russia, and European stakeholders. This broad-based backing enhances Pakistan\u2019s credibility and strengthens its position as a \u201cnet stability provider\u201d in an increasingly volatile region.
\nAmbassador Khan concluded that Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic success has elevated its global standing and opened new avenues for strategic and economic engagement.
\nWhile the outcome of negotiations remains uncertain, he stressed that Pakistan has already written a \u201cgolden chapter\u201d in the history of diplomacy by steering the world away from a potentially devastating conflict and toward dialogue and peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former ambassador to United States, China and United Nations, and former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan here on Friday has hailed Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic efforts as a historic breakthrough, stating that the country has set a new global benchmark in peacemaking by facilitating direct engagement between the United States and Iran during one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-541085","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n