Successful Mediation

Mediation is not a matter of public relations, photo opportunities, or symbolic gestures. Rather, it reflects extensive effort, diplomatic skill, and—most importantly—the trust of the conflicting parties in the mediator.

The success of Pakistan’s mediation between the United States and Iran has opened a new diplomatic space for Islamabad at both the regional and international levels. It has brought Pakistan closer to the challenges of the Middle East and the broader concerns of the Arab and Islamic worlds by enabling it to play a decisive role in resolving a complex and long-running conflict between Washington and Tehran. After months of war, interrupted by incomplete ceasefires and a hesitant agreement, the two sides eventually reached an understanding that was skillfully and effectively brokered by Islamabad.

Pakistan’s mediation efforts have also helped reshape its international image, distinguishing it from perceptions that prevailed during earlier periods of its history. Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has experienced sharp political fluctuations, multiple wars with neighboring India, and repeated transitions between civilian and military rule. As a result, international perceptions of Islamabad have often been mixed and contradictory. There were the achievements of Pakistani scholars who impressed both East and West; there was a political model that attracted considerable criticism; and there was a formidable military and nuclear capability that nevertheless could not conceal the difficult economic conditions faced by many of its citizens.

Yet these divergent assessments of the “Pakistani model” have, in this case, converged into a broad consensus of praise for the role Pakistan has played in efforts to end the American-Iranian conflict. Many preconceived judgments about the country have been reconsidered in light of the professionalism displayed by Pakistan’s civilian and military institutions alike. This role was ultimately crowned by the signing ceremony in Switzerland, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir.

It is rare for a country to transform its international image through sophisticated diplomacy and high-level political performance rather than through sweeping domestic reforms. It is even rarer for a state to succeed in resolving—or at least freezing—a major conflict such as the confrontation between the United States and Iran. One side is a global superpower possessing immense military and economic capabilities, while the other is a major regional power that has been involved in confrontations with many of its neighbors, in addition to the United States and Israel.

Pakistan’s external role and mediation efforts have demonstrated the effectiveness of its foreign policy without resorting to slogans or excessive publicity. They have also highlighted positive developments in the country’s governance and institutional performance. The professionalism, credibility, and ability to deliver tangible results displayed abroad suggest a level of competence that many hope will increasingly be reflected in domestic governance as well.

The stability of Pakistan’s elected civilian government contributed significantly to the success of its mediation efforts. It strengthened the country’s international standing and enabled it to gain the confidence of both parties to the conflict, as well as the broader international community.

Successful governance at home—whether in politics or economics—enhances a country’s ability to project an effective and influential foreign policy. Conversely, domestic shortcomings often constrain external ambitions and limit diplomatic effectiveness. Perhaps the success of Pakistan’s international role will create new momentum for further domestic reforms, allowing the country to build on its diplomatic achievements and translate them into lasting internal progress.

Originally published in Al-Masry Al-Youm.