Pakistan continues to play key facilitator role in US-Iran talks: Sardar Masood Khan
Islamabad: Sardar Masood Khan, former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has reaffirmed that Pakistan continues to play a vital and credible role as a facilitator in the evolving US–Iran negotiations, dismissing claims that its diplomatic relevance has diminished.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking in a television interview, Masood Khan said the current phase of the crisis is not only defined by military escalation but also by unprecedented global awareness of diplomacy in action. “This conflict has brought diplomacy into public view, where citizens across the world are observing in real time how states engage, negotiate, and maneuver,” he observed.
He stressed that Pakistan has not been sidelined from the process. “There is no indication that Pakistan has been sidelined. On the contrary, proximity talks—where parties engage indirectly through a trusted intermediary—are ongoing, and Pakistan is playing that intermediary role effectively,” he stated.
Masood Khan explained that Pakistan is facilitating the exchange of proposals between Washington and Tehran while attempting to bridge critical differences under highly complex conditions. He noted that both sides are still consolidating internal positions as they move toward a possible framework for understanding. At the same time, he warned that rising rhetoric and continued military threats are complicating diplomatic efforts and increasing pressure on Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
Highlighting the core impediment to progress, he said that trust cannot be restored without simultaneous steps to ease tensions, particularly the U.S. blockade measures and issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. He observed that Iran has demonstrated some flexibility, but Washington continues to apply pressure to shape the outcome of negotiations.
On regional outreach, he noted Iran’s engagement with Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, reflects efforts to rebuild trust, though deep divisions and external factors could slow post-conflict reconciliation.
Concluding, Sardar Masood Khan said that while both sides appear inclined toward a negotiated settlement, but a durable agreement will require patience, mutual concessions, and sustained third-party facilitation, with Pakistan continuing to serve as a key bridge in this critical diplomatic effort.
