On Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative will host a virtual discussion examining Pakistan’s emergence as the central mediator between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan has emerged as the central mediator between the US and Iran. It was heavily involved in facilitation efforts focused on deescalating and ending the war in Iran, and it played a lead role in brokering the ceasefire announced on April 8. Then, on April 11 and 12, it directly mediated talks between senior American and Iranian officials in Islamabad.

Though those negotiations ended without a deal, Pakistan has drawn extensive international attention and praise for its efforts. With the two-week truce expiring on April 22, Islamabad has worked actively to help create the conditions for a second round of talks. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, recently traveled to Tehran, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Islamabad is now set to host a second round of talks during the week of April 20.

How did Pakistan successfully position itself as the lead mediator in this conflict? How have Washington and Tehran come to view Pakistan’s role, and how has it earned their trust? And where does this all leave Pakistan moving forward–in terms of its place in ongoing peace efforts, the implications for its broader foreign policy and strategic interests, and the risks it faces if talks were to collapse? 

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