Islamabad Gambit: How 'Unreliable' Pakistan’s 'Mega Mediation' Between Iran & West Failed | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 20:37 IST

Top intelligence sources suggest that Pakistan's claims of 'tireless mediation' are being viewed with profound scepticism by global powers

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has provided a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Islamabad’s “head-over-heels" attempt to prevent the current regional conflagration, CNN-News18 has learnt. According to Dar, the Pakistani leadership—led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir—embarked on a frantic diplomatic mission to facilitate a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington before the situation spiralled into the chaos of Operation Epic Fury.

However, top intelligence sources suggest that claims of “tireless mediation" are being viewed with profound scepticism by global powers. Major regional players do not see Pakistan as an impartial arbiter; the US continues to view Islamabad as unreliable due to past accusations of double-dealing, while Iran remains suspicious of Pakistan’s deep-seated ties with Saudi Arabia and Washington. As Gulf states reel from Iranian retaliatory strikes, many are questioning why Pakistan is pushing for mediation while issuing only mild condemnations of attacks on their sovereign infrastructure. Ultimately, Dar’s boasts appear to ring hollow to the international community, looking more like desperate posturing for domestic credit or an attempt to curry favour amidst Pakistan’s deepening economic woes.

Minister Dar disclosed that Islamabad had positioned itself as a neutral ground for secret negotiations. “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif made tireless efforts to mediate negotiations between Iran and the United States," Dar stated, expressing a distinct “delight" in the prospect of hosting these sessions. This “Islamabad Gambit" was reportedly designed to create a de-escalation roadmap that would have secured Iran’s borders while addressing American security concerns.

The revelations paint a picture of a missed opportunity for peace, thwarted by what Dar describes as an unpredictable escalation of hostilities across the Persian Gulf.

The most significant revelation was Pakistan’s plan to build a massive regional consensus. Dar claimed that had Iran exercised restraint, Pakistan was prepared to rally the powerful Gulf monarchies to Tehran’s side of the negotiating table to provide a collective diplomatic shield.

“If Iran had not attacked the Gulf countries, we would have rallied those countries to our side as well," Dar lamented. He suggested that Iran’s decision to launch strikes against Gulf targets—under the pretext that American bases were being used for operations—effectively shattered the regional unity Islamabad was trying to curate. By attacking its neighbours, Dar argued, Iran alienated the very partners that could have prevented the current US-Israeli aggression.

Addressing the February 28 blitz, Dar emphasised that Pakistan’s stance remains principled. “We immediately condemned the attack on Iran, which is on record," he noted, referring to Islamabad’s swift response.

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister touched upon the volatile western border, indicating a unified front between the civilian government and the military establishment regarding the Taliban-led administration in Kabul. “Me and the Field Marshal both want good relations with Afghanistan," Dar stated, signalling that despite the chaos in West Asia, Pakistan is desperate to maintain a stable relationship with Kabul to avoid a catastrophic two-front security crisis.

Ultimately, the “Field Marshal and the Prime Minister" duo’s attempt at a historic diplomatic “grand slam" appears to have unravelled, leaving Islamabad’s influence tested and its credibility questioned as regional trust evaporates alongside burning oil and military infrastructure.

News world Islamabad Gambit: How 'Unreliable' Pakistan’s 'Mega Mediation' Between Iran & West Failed | Exclusive Details

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