Pakistan has assumed the role of mediator to de-escalate the US–Iran war. While this initiative has been taken in good faith, some Arab commentators have begun criticising Pakistan’s mediation role.
Some Arab journalists, senior officials, and strategic thinkers are questioning Pakistan’s decision to step in as a mediator. They are advancing a narrative that an ally cannot be a mediator, and a mediator cannot be an ally.
They imply that since Pakistan has historic relations with Arab countries, it should neither be neutral nor mediator but join the fight on their side.
This tantamounts to reducing a complex situation to a binary equation, ‘either you are with us or against us’.
Media reports indicate that Arab countries do not want US to end war at this stage, instead are getting ready to join the war on US/Israel side. It looks like they expect Pakistan to join the war on their side.
Let us ask our Arab brothers: What is that you have that US and Israel didn’t have which will make Iran capitulate? Do you have superior armed forces than US and Israel?
Already, US alone has struck 13,000 targets. Entire senior political and military leadership has been eliminated, airforce and navy has been completely destroyed, military infrastructure has been destroyed, missiles and drones destroyed, nuclear facilities obliterated. Now they are hitting factories, universities and all state infrastructure.
So what will you destroy? Is there anything left?
Do you want to invade Iran with land forces? Can you do it against a nation of 90 million people which is largely standing with the state?
What is your war termination strategy? How do you see Middle East after this war is over?
War termination is critical part of overall war strategy. If you go wrong in it, peace remains illusionary.
If you cannot make a difference by putting your weight on US/Israel side, then why to make a move which will create hatred and animosity for generations to come.
Have you thought that US, sooner or later, is going to move to other issues/wars and leave this problem to us — the Arabs, Persians, Turks and Pakistanis. We have to co-exist here, no matter how much we hate each other.
So how should this region look like when war is over?
Pakistan has fought wars. So we have experience with war termination strategies. Have faith in Pakistan. We are with you. Pakistan is looking at your durable security.
Find a durable solution to the problem with Pakistan. Iran has been defeated militarily and thoroughly destroyed. But the vanquished should never be humiliated. This is a lesson of history. Treaty of Versailles is an example not far in the past.
If you join the war, and Trump moves to yet new wars in other parts of the world, we all will exhaust each other by fighting to the death.
So let us find some political solution which is honourable and acceptable to all parties. Threat to your security has been reduced greatly. Iran will take decades to stand back on its feet.
Now look for stability and peace.
