ISLAMABAD
\nFormer ambassador to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan here on Saturday hailed Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic breakthrough as a historic achievement, stating that the country has succeeded in persuading long-standing adversaries; the United States and Iran, to engage in direct, negotiations in Islamabad.
\nKhan emphasized that Pakistan\u2019s role as a behind-the-scenes mediator has been pivotal in transforming an otherwise improbable scenario into reality. \u201cEven before the war, such engagement was unthinkable. During and after the conflict, it became even more difficult. Yet Pakistan, through sustained diplomatic efforts, made it possible,\u201d he remarked while speaking in a series of TV interviews following the arrival of negotiating teams.
\nHe noted that Pakistan\u2019s intervention was instrumental in securing even a temporary ceasefire and in creating the conditions necessary for both sides to agree to talks. Islamabad, he added, has now emerged as a trusted venue where complex and sensitive issues\u2014ranging from regional security to maritime governance\u2014can be addressed constructively.
\nAmbassador Khan cautioned that despite this progress, expectations should remain measured. \u201cThere is no immediate optimism. Both sides have a history of hostility and deep mistrust,\u201d he said, adding that their agreement to come to Islamabad nonetheless reflects pragmatism and a willingness to explore common ground. He highlighted that both Washington and Tehran have presented extensive negotiating agendas, signaling seriousness about resolving disputes and moving toward a ceasefire framework.
\nHe pointed out that several contentious issues remain on the table, including guarantees of non-aggression, a permanent ceasefire, sanctions relief, nuclear commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the governance of the Strait of Hormuz. He also identified the role of Israel as a critical external factor influencing the negotiations, describing it as \u201cthe elephant in the room.\u201d
\nAmbassador Khan observed that war fatigue in the United States and the severe toll of conflict on Iran and the broader Gulf region have created incentives for dialogue. \u201cThe region is wounded, and there is a growing realization that continued conflict serves no one\u2019s long-term interests,\u201d he noted.
\nHe further underscored Pakistan\u2019s broader diplomatic outreach, including engagement with regional partners such as T\u00fcrkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as well as coordination with China through a joint framework that helped shape the roadmap for negotiations.
\nKhan stated that Pakistan has firmly established its credentials as a credible mediator on the global stage. While acknowledging the complexity of the negotiations ahead, he expressed cautious confidence that Islamabad\u2019s facilitation could help bridge differences and guide the parties toward a workable and peaceful outcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Former ambassador to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan here on Saturday hailed Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic breakthrough as a historic achievement, stating that the country has succeeded in persuading long-standing adversaries; the United States and Iran, to engage in direct, negotiations in Islamabad. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-541278","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n