Pakistan leans on US and Iran ties to emerge as potential peacebroker
Pakistan's role as a possible host of talks aimed at ending the Iran war builds on its courtship of United States President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran's Islamic Republic. If talks happen, it could raise Pakistan's global prominence to heights not reached since the country helped mediate the secret diplomatic opening that led to US President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972. It would cap over a year of relationship building with Trump that has involved astute diplomacy and crypto deals. Pakistan, which maintains direct contact with both Washington and Tehran at a time when such channels are frozen for most other countries, would also benefit directly from an end to the war. The country is home to the world's second-largest Shia Muslim population after Iran, and faced nationwide protests the day after US and Israeli strikes assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the co...