ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s balanced, impartial and principled stance has helped it maintain confidence among all parties amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, the country’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said this week, as Washington’s tensions with Tehran continue over a proposed agreement aimed at ending months of conflict.
Pakistan has been accepted as the chief mediator by both the US and Iran as the two sides seek an end to their months-long conflict that has rattled global energy markets, disrupted shipping lines and adversely impacted global economy since February. Islamabad hosted the first round of peace talks between the US and Washington last month and has relayed messages and peace proposals between the two sides in hopes of ending the conflict.
Pakistan has been accepted as a key mediator by the US and Iran as it has forged close ties with Washington under the Donald Trump administration. Pakistan also enjoys cordial ties with Iran, with which it shares an over 900-kilometer-long border, and has close defense, economic and security ties with several Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad met a 40-member delegation from the US Army War College on Monday. The delegation, led by Col. Stephen Walters, visited the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN in New York to participate in a briefing on Pakistan. Ahmad briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s active engagement in UN affairs, its role in multilateral diplomacy and spoke on Islamabad’s stance on key regional and global issues.
“Discussing Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue amid regional tensions, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stated that Pakistan’s balanced, principled, and impartial stance has helped maintain the confidence of all relevant parties,” Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN wrote on X on Tuesday.
“He noted that Pakistan’s close relations with the United States, Iran, Gulf countries, and major global powers, combined with its current membership in the Security Council, enable it to play a positive role in negotiations and diplomatic efforts.”
During a question-and-answer session, Ahmad noted that the US-Iran conflict has impacted global energy markets, oil and gas supplies, fertilizer availability, food security, inflation, maritime trade, international commerce and global economic growth rates. He said disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz had hit global energy markets and trade routes, adding that Islamabad had also suffered due to regional instability.
The Pakistani envoy spoke about the evolving security landscape in the Middle East and the Gulf region, stating that recent developments could prompt a “fresh reassessment of security arrangements and strategic alignments.”
“He emphasized that future security architectures should be based on international law, the UN Charter, collective security, respect for sovereignty, and the principle of equal security for all states,” the Pakistani mission said in its statement.
The Pakistani envoy spoke about Islamophobia during the discussion, defining it as discrimination, marginalization or prejudice against Muslims based on religion.
“Declaring religious freedom a fundamental human right, he stressed the need to promote interfaith respect, inclusion, and harmony,” the Pakistani mission said. “He stated that Pakistan, along with other like-minded countries, has played a leading role in efforts against Islamophobia in the United Nations, paving the way for the establishment of a UN Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia.”
Participants of the discussion commended the Pakistani mission for its hospitality and the constructive exchange, the statement said.
In addition to 33 participants from the US, the visiting delegation included two from Pakistan, and one each from Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Moldova, Guatemala and Ecuador.
