US-Iran ceasefire: Why are negotiations happening in Pakistan?

In an unusual move, Pakistan has positioned itself as a major player in geopolitics, mediating the ceasefire between the United States and Iran that was announced by US President Donald Trump just an hour before his deadline to launch large-scale military strikes. The development follows a last-minute diplomatic push by Pakistan aimed at preventing a major escalation, after Trump had warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if an agreement was not reached before his deadline. The initial two-week ceasefire will follow negotiations in Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presented the ceasefire plan to Trump late Tuesday (Apr 7), which both countries have now agreed to. Several other nations, including Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have also acted as mediators between the warring countries.

Why are talks taking place in Pakistan?

Pakistan shares a long border and cultural ties with Iran. It also shares religious ties and is home to the largest population of Shia Muslims outside of Iran.

While other Islamic countries in the Gulf host US military bases, Pakistan does not have any US bases in its territory. Amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Iran has also allowed some Pakistani ships to pass through the strategic shipping waterway.

Islamabad has also emerged as a key US partner in Trump’s second term. The US president has referred to the head of its military, Asim Munir, as his “favourite field marshal.”

Read more | Iran ceasefire deal: Talks with US in Islamabad on Friday; approved by Mojtaba Khamenei — Reports

What benefits does Pakistan have?

Pakistan also has its own incentives for de-escalating the situation in West Asia, given its dependence on energy supplies in the region. The country is currently facing a crisis amid the rising oil prices across the world. Earlier this month, petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan rose by up to 54 per cent. Following the “unavoidable” increase, the government was forced to raise petrol prices by 137 rupees (49 cents) per litre, following a 20 per cent increase last month. While diesel prices were increased by 184.49 rupees (67 cents) per litre, climbing about 54.9 per cent.

Washington’s interest in Pakistan’s rare earth

In recent months, Pakistan has also grabbed Washington’s interest after it declared having a massive trove of rare earths and critical minerals. Last year, Trump announced a deal with Pakistan, saying that the United States would work with Pakistan on “developing their massive oil reserves”. However, the claims have not been substantiated yet, and no commercial drilling has confirmed the existence, size, or quality of the reserves. Experts have cautioned that Pakistan’s oil reserves lack development plans, proven recoverability, or commercial viability.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.