U.S. Vice President JD Vance, center, speaks with Pakistan's Army Chief and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, left, and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after arriving for the U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, April 11. AFP-Yonhap
ISLAMABAD — Over a feverish few days of diplomacy, Pakistan's military and civilian politicians successfully divided the Middle East between them to push for a second round of US-Iran peace talks expected to take place in Islamabad this week.
The country's powerful military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, headed to Tehran on Wednesday for what would become a three-day trip, where Iranian leaders said he carried US proposals for a second round of peace talks.
Simultaneously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his foreign minister conducted a whirlwind diplomatic tour across regional allies Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
The twin trips illustrate the coordination at play in what is often described as a "hybrid regime" in Pakistan, and Munir's central role in the negotiating process.
"The synergy that is going on right now is giving results, and to take this momentum forward all this synergy will be needed," said Sheharyar Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based National Dialogue Forum.
Munir was one of two Pakistani mediators in the room during face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad on April 11.
"It's not political leadership that takes the decision in these kinds of situations, but the military leadership," said a Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official described Munir's visit to Iran as "important" in bringing both sides back to the negotiating table.
"The deal is almost done. He is the only person who can convince Iranians for a deal — that's because of the trust level."
Source: Korea Times News
