Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between the United States and Iran to end a month-long war, according to officials familiar with the diplomatic discussions. Islamabad has conveyed Washington’s 15-point peace plan to Tehran and proposed formal talks. Reports indicate that Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump, suggesting Islamabad as a potential venue, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Negotiations involving senior US and Iranian representatives could begin within the week.

The development has unsettled India, where relations with the US have recently strained. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy as a “global joke,” while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach had outperformed India’s. Analysts noted that Pakistan’s border with Iran, its military experience with the US, and ties with Saudi Arabia and China positioned it for this role. Former Indian diplomat T.C.A. Raghavan acknowledged that US-Pakistan relations had strengthened over the past year and that successful mediation could further consolidate them.

Modi later stated that he and Trump agreed to maintain contact to ensure stability in the Middle East and keep the Strait of Hormuz open, vital for Asian economies.