Walk on a Tightrope

What had begun with Hammas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, not only resulted in complete destruction of Gaza and death of almost 100,000 Palestinian with uncounted bodies buried under the rubble and thousands and thousands seriously wounded; it ultimately led to a bigger conflict, seriously threatening Global peace and economy. The United States and Israel launched coordinated military attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026, initiating a significant conflict with ongoing strikes and counter strikes. Known as "Operation Epic Fury" by the US, the campaign targeted Iranian military assets, nuclear /missile  facilities, and leadership for the Regime Change, with intensive bombing continuing through early April 2026; which met partial success.

However, Iran’s perseverance, courage, national cohesion and unexpected retaliation capabilities shocked the invaders. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz significantly increased the global oil prices, putting the international stock exchanges in tail spin and  hard hitting the global economic system. Besides, Iran’s retaliatory strikes against declared targets in Gulf States like Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia further widened the gulf between Iran and the Arab world. Resultantly, the whole Middle East region is on the boil and the economy of Gulf States has been badly mauled with faith shaken in the American security umbrella. The American bases in all these countries became the justification for Iran to launch drones and missile strikes initially against the American military  targets, which later expanded to attacks on the American/ Israeli banks, software houses and then the petrochemical industries and complexes.

Throughout the conflict,  showing greater pride in Persian Nationalism and faith, Iran remained fearless in attacking targets inside Israel, Gulf States and against American military assets in the Gulf including its two aircraft carriers, badly bruising the American ego. The volatile situation in the Middle East had brought the World to the brink of another Great War, with the potential to spiral out of control and reminding of the Pearl Harbour attack  by Japanese and subsequent strategic bombing of Tokyo and then dropping of atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Pakistan Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Chief of Defence Staff/ Army Chief, made hectic diplomatic efforts to create reconciliatory mood first among the Muslim countries i.e. Iran and the Gulf States and then between Iran and the USA. These efforts had just begun to get some traction with some positive vibes coming from all sides. However, in the afternoon on 7 April 2026, Pakistan’s peace seeking efforts got serious jolts, after Iran’s attack on the Petrochemical Complex/ industry in Saudi Arabia. And subsequent telephone conversation between Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman of KSA and Pakistan Prime Minister and then special Corps Commanders Conference followed by the press statement by the Pakistan Government condemning Iran’s attack and reassuring solidarity with KSA . Besides, POTUS Trump’s repeated threats of wiping out the complete civilization by unprecedented military strikes on Tuesday was like sprinkling fuel on the fire. Consequently, jubilant Iran, perhaps smelling victory, announced refusal to continue the indirect talks with USA and thereby putting a question mark on the success of the peace seeking efforts spearheaded by Pakistan. 

In such a Mutually Assured Destructive Environment, Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative along with Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia with China on board was the only sane step. Pakistan’s sincere and sustained efforts to act as a go between the USA and Iran finally gave a ray of hope for bringing around a phased cessation to the destructive and maddening hostilities. Last night a two weeks long ceasefire agreed between USA/ Israel and Iran not only gave a sense of satisfaction to the Pakistani leadership and people;but also to the whole region and the world. Pakistan in fact had to walk on a tightrope in order to maintain balance in her relations with all the countries involved in the conflict.  Making the belligerents agree on ten or more points to bring around a ceasefire must have involved a big chessboard game with collective wisdom coming from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, KSA and China as well as from war weary Iran and USA looking for a referee in the ring. But concisely putting the temporary peace points together in an acceptable shape, must have involved Pakistan Military leadership in the lead.

Nevertheless, in such an impasse, a lot depended on Pakistan’s dedicated commitment to save the region from a greater destruction, which thankfully led to cessation of hostilities in the late evening on April 7, 2026. For record, it happened when the UNO looked helpless like the defunct League of Nations, with Russia busy with her own invasion of Ukraine and Gaza put on the back burner. The most scary outcome of failure of Pakistan’s peace seeking intermediary efforts could have resulted in a massive US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, bridges and oil industries and its fall out was unlikely to remain confined to Iran but it might have affected the whole region with its fallout as was also threatened by Iran’s foreign minister. 

One can only wish and hope that the sanity shall prevail to stop the ongoing madness permanently.Pakistan has played an unforgettable mature and responsible role as per the stature of a responsible Nuclear Armed State, which will hopefully be remembered by Iran, her overzealous supporters in Pakistan and by all Gulf countries as well as by the USA. Well done Pakistan!