Media: Pakistan keeps backchannel diplomacy alive between US, Iran

Despite the ongoing deadlock, Pakistan continues to pursue behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran, a senior Pakistani official familiar with the trilateral contacts told The Guardian. 

The official stressed that Islamabad’s proposal to help facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran “is still intact.”

“We are actively involved in efforts to resolve US-Iran tensions,” the official emphasised. “Our offer to facilitate contacts has not changed. The understanding reached earlier remains intact, and we continue to engage both sides.”

According to the source, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has maintained regular communication with senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, as part of Islamabad’s broader efforts to prevent a further escalation of regional tensions.

The official also noted that Pakistan has continued high-level engagement with Iran, including extended discussions between Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that lasted several hours.

“Pakistan has channels open with both Washington and Tehran and believes dialogue remains the only viable path to avoid a wider regional conflict,” the source added.

While declining to reveal the substance of those exchanges, the official said Pakistan considers itself among the few countries that retain the trust of both Washington and Tehran, enabling it to quietly promote diplomatic engagement during a period of heightened regional uncertainty.

By Jeyhun Aghazada