ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani sources said that Pakistan is exploring a path towards resuming the stalled US-Iranian talks on ending the nearly five-month-old war, following a campaign initiated by China.
The sources said that exploratory discussions took place during the visit of Iranian Interior Minister Eskander Momeni to Islamabad this week, his second in the past ten days. Momeni, who is considered close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, met with members of the Pakistani government and army chief Asim Munir, according to Pakistani government statements. The three sources warned that obstacles to any talks with the United States remain high.Pakistan has found itself in an increasingly complex position as a potential future mediator. Earlier this week, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Islamabad that signed a mutual defense treaty with Pakistan last year. Pakistan relies on Saudi financial support, and Islamabad has strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Being seen as too receptive to Iranian arguments could frustrate Riyadh.
But Islamabad is similarly dependent on Beijing, which has also been a major financial backer of Islamabad and has economic interests in finding a diplomatic solution to reopen key trade routes in West Asia. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the new efforts with Chinese officials when he visited China last week, the three Pakistani sources said.A Pakistani government official said: “The Chinese are dissatisfied because Iran’s attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz harm their interests.”
“China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Beijing is Iran’s largest trading partner and the main buyer of its crude oil, despite international sanctions imposed on Tehran. Over the years, China has also increased its support for Iran’s security through dual-use components, chip equipment, and satellite navigation systems, although China has not overtly provided military aid to Iran since the war began.(This is a Reuters report)