Pakistan has offered to host talks aimed at bringing the Iran conflict to an end, highlighting the country's strengthened ties in both the Middle East and with Washington.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a social mediaposton March 24 that his country "stands ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.
Pakistan has been one of several countries -- along with Turkey and Egypt -- reportedly playing a role as an intermediary in trying to end fighting that started with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28.
Some media outlets have reported Islamabad as a possible location for talks between Tehran and Washington -- perhaps as early as this week.
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Its not clear when or if these will go ahead, but as a neighbor of Iran that gets much of its oil from the Persian Gulf, Pakistan has been acutely affected by the conflict and has a strong interest in seeing it end.
Pakistan has stepped up its efforts to mediate a cease-fire, a senior military source in the country told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal. The efforts are joined by Turkey and Egypt. Pakistan has a stake for multiple reasons.
Trumps Favorite Field Marshall
A key player in this has been Asim Munir, the head of Pakistans army, which traditionally pulls the levers of power behind the scenes while political leaders talk to the TV cameras.
Trump has described Munir as my favorite field marshal, and the White House told RFE/RL that the two men discussed the war and US-Iran talks in a call on March 23.
"Pakistan belongs certainly to the winners of Trump II foreign policy. Asim Munir has had at least two meetings with President Trump last year," Christian Wagner, a senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told RFE/RL.
"It was quite unexpected that Pakistan suddenly got this high recognition in US foreign policy under the second Trump administration. And the personal relationship between Trump and General Munir has certainly contributed to this," he added.
