Pak efforts keep ceasefire alive | The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:

When the news of evacuation of 22 Iranian crew members of the vessel seized by the US Navy to Pakistan emerged on Monday, it signified the effectiveness of mediation efforts by Islamabad.

The development was seen as a significant confidence-building measure and a precursor to potential other positive outcomes.

However, within hours of what could be a defining phase in the diplomatic efforts, US President Donald Trump announced “Project Freedom” to help stranded ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the US Navy.

The announcement sparked an immediate reaction from Iran, which termed the move a violation of the ceasefire. Tehran then claimed hitting a US naval ship with missiles, but CENTCOM denied the incident. Instead, it claimed that under “Project Freedom,” two US-flagged vessels successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid this, the UAE came under purported missile strikes from Iran. Plumes of smoke coming from Fujairah, an energy strategic hub, sent shockwaves across the region.

There were alarm bells ringing that a renewed war was around the corner.

The hard-earned ceasefire and progress made through backchannel talks were about to go down the drain.

While the world prepared for the worst, one country refused to lose hope.

Pakistani mediators burnt the proverbial midnight oil to ensure that diplomacy did not falter.

It has not only stepped up its engagement with the principal parties involved in the conflict but also other stakeholders which may have sway.

As the world waited with bated breath, Pakistan’s diplomacy went into overdrive to prevent an escalation.

Pakistan, while treading cautiously during the entire conflict, minced no words when the UAE came under attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and urged all sides to show restraint and abide by the ceasefire.

Iran, interestingly, distanced itself from the UAE strikes, although initially Iranian state media owned the attacks.

This, perhaps, was due to the backlash Iran faced after the strikes, since the timing was such when talks were making progress behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan reached out to other regional players, particularly Saudi Arabia, to find common ground that could prevent the inevitable.

Islamabad, along with Riyadh, persuaded the Trump administration to reconsider “Project Freedom.”

The challenge, though, was whether President Trump could be convinced.

But as has happened during this entire conflict, Pakistan once again sprang a surprise when President Trump agreed to pause the operation in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of Pakistan and other countries.

“This was certainly a remarkable achievement of Pakistan,” said a diplomatic source, whose own country is also part of the diplomatic push.

Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Trump for the gesture and at the same time acknowledged the role of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

Following Trump’s announcement, US media reports suggested that Washington and Islamabad were inching closer to a “one-page” MoU to end the war permanently.

Pakistan is tight-lipped as part of its deliberate approach aimed at not revealing details of intricate secret talks.

But a diplomatic source said that a lot more has happened and has been happening behind closed doors. The outcome of those efforts would begin to come to the surface soon.

Nevertheless, observers have cautioned against high expectations, as things could take a turn for the worse at the last minute.

Yet, Pakistan is pushing for the process to reach its logical end. “Pakistan has managed to pull things from the brink, at least for now,” remarked a source.