Pakistan's got itself in the larger frame

Even Dalal St is acquainted with 'dalal' - literally, broker or intermediary - often carrying negative connotations of being a fixer or tout. In that sense, India is, indeed, not a dalal nation. But, then, neither is it perceived by the world at large as being a potential mediator in the still very-much-raging US-Israel war against Iran - despite some voices suggesting that India use its 'strategic autonomy' to reach out to all sides.

Pakistan has no such qualms. It's trying to use the chips it has, and has reached out to the Trump regime that has been increasingly asking for - and perhaps fantasising about - negotiations with Tehran. Understandably, after the last round of talks with the US in Oman, Iran is once bitten twice shy. Enter Pakistan, which is seeking to leverage its 'closeness' to Trump, Saudi Arabian support, and an 'insurance' against mutual antagonist Iran by tapping the 'umma'.

In the process, Islamabad has got a toehold in the larger geopolitical picture as an actor, no matter if it's a cameo. So far, its campaign has not fallen flat. Iran is keeping its options open, stating that Pakistan is among the 'many countries' that have approached it with the offer to mediate, and praised it for 'good intentions'.


Ironically, Islamabad had earlier turned down Iran's offer to mediate in the ongoing Af-Pak conflict. But the present is what matters, and even as the White House on Thursday described potential US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan as 'speculation', with negotiation itself speculative, Islamabad slipping itself into the 'talks' narrative is diplomatically smart.

Whether anything comes of Pakistani virtue-signalling will be known sooner or later. But ending the war by hook or via Islamabad is a worthwhile endeavour, even in theory.