Pakistan Wants To Be 'Indispensable Intermediary' In Iran War: Why Did Asim Munir Visit UAE?

Last Updated:March 31, 2026, 01:30 IST

In a bold move to elevate its diplomatic standing, Pakistan's military leadership is attempting to position Islamabad as a vital intermediary between the US and Iran

Pakistan is seeking to play the role of an “indispensable" peacemaker between the United States and Iran as tensions escalate in the West Asia conflict.

In a bold move to elevate its diplomatic standing, Pakistan’s military leadership is attempting to position Islamabad as a vital intermediary between the US and Iran.

According to top security sources, this strategic shift was underscored by the recent high-level visit of Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to Abu Dhabi, where he engaged in extensive discussions on the volatile situation in West Asia. During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, Field Marshal Munir met with the President, defence minister, and various senior security officials to discuss evolving regional developments.

The security source told News18 that Field Marshal Munir briefed the UAE leadership on specific proposed mediation strategies designed to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. While the visit was officially framed as a show of “regional solidarity", the outreach was also heavily motivated by Pakistan’s “urgent economic compulsions" and a pressing need for “strategic security assurances".

The source said the discussions in the UAE highlight Pakistan’s ambition to be viewed as an “indispensable intermediary" amid evolving global conflicts. By leveraging this mediation narrative, the military leadership hopes to project diplomatic relevance at a time when the threat of a broader conflict looms.

Beyond mediation, the source said, the high-level talks served to “reaffirm a shared commitment to counter-terrorism and maintaining regional stability" with both sides discussing mutual security interests in the face of shifting dynamics in West Asia. This manoeuvre represents a calculated attempt by Pakistan to transform its image into that of a central peacemaker, using military diplomacy to secure the nation’s economic and strategic future.

The Iran war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertiliser shortages and disrupted air travel. The Revolutionary Guards’ grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices, while the Houthis’ entry could further hurt global shipping if they again target vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea through which about 12 percent of the world’s trade typically passes.

Even as regional powers were meeting in Pakistan to discuss how to end the fighting, at least 2,500 US Marines arrived in the region. On Sunday (March 29), Pakistan announced that it will soon host talks between the US and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions will be direct or indirect.

“Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks. Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days," foreign minister Ishaq Dar said after top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in Islamabad.

Pakistan later said the diplomats had departed for their home countries. The talks were originally scheduled to continue on Monday.

Pakistan has emerged as a mediator, having relatively good ties with the US and Tehran, after what officials called weeks of quiet diplomacy. Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the talks in Pakistan as a cover after some 2,500 US Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in West Asia.

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