Pakistan and China have jointly proposed a five-part peace initiative for the Middle East, following a meeting between Foreign Ministers Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi in Beijing. The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire and protection of waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, as part of efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.
The one-day meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on the crisis, with China maintaining a largely neutral stance despite its ties to Tehran. Beijing has condemned initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran but has focused on calling for a ceasefire and negotiating safe passage for its oil tankers. The joint statement emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable options to resolve conflicts.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a peacemaker, leveraging its relationships with both Washington and Tehran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Syed Asim Munir have communicated with US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with messages passing through Pakistani intermediaries. Islamabad recently hosted talks with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, though the absence of the US and Iran undermined the discussions.
Analysts note that Pakistan's push for a mediator role follows years of being sidelined by Washington and reflects a desire to be seen as a regional diplomatic heavyweight. However, the country has significant stakes in ending the conflict, including economic costs from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a 560-mile border with Iran, and fears of sectarian tensions spilling over into its restive Balochistan region.
Pakistan also has a defence pact with Saudi Arabia, raising concerns it could be drawn into the war if Gulf states shift to an offensive stance. Political analyst Rafiullah Kakar said Pakistan's strong interest in de-escalation reflects both geopolitical and domestic concerns, as the conflict could further undermine the country's already unstable security situation.
