For decades, Pakistan has been viewed through the narrow prism of security crises, economic instability and geopolitical dependency. Yet today, amid one of the most dangerous Middle Eastern confrontations in recent memory, Islamabad is attempting something far more ambitious: positioning itself as a credible force for regional peace. Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagement between Iran, Gulf states and Western powers reflects not merely tactical opportunism, but a deeper understanding of its own strategic necessity. A wider Middle East war would devastate Pakistan economically and politically. Oil prices would soar, remittances from Gulf countries could suffer, and sectarian tensions at home would intensify. Peace, therefore, is not charity for Islamabad; it is survival. Recent reports suggest Pakistan has become an important intermediary in indirect talks involving Washington and Tehran. Senior Pakistani officials have engaged with Iranian leadership while simultaneously coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and the United States in search of de-escalation. This balancing act is not easy. Pakistan maintains close strategic ties with Saudi Arabia while sharing a long and sensitive border with Iran. It cannot afford hostility with either side. Critics argue that Islamabad’s military cooperation with Riyadh undermines its neutrality. That concern is valid. Yet diplomacy in the modern Middle East rarely emerges from perfect neutrality; it emerges from advantage, access and trust with multiple actors. Pakistan possesses all three, albeit imperfectly. What distinguishes Pakistan’s current approach is its attempt to revive dialogue at a time when many regional powers are trapped in maximalist rhetoric. Islamabad has hosted consultations involving Muslim countries seeking to prevent escalation and secure maritime........

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