Give the devil his due. Pakistan did emerge as the central force in facilitating a ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Those being dismissive about the importance of the feat are wrong. It indeed is a diplomatic feat for any country, more so for Pakistan, which is desperate for international recognition and credibility as an influential player in global affairs. Pakistan actually benefited from right permutations and combinations to its advantage in assuming a central role in brokering the ceasefire.
At the same time, it is also wrong that India was placed at any disadvantage. Pakistan’s gain is certainly not India’s loss. Because, India did not have any role in this situation, hence it is wrong to suggest that it was any diplomatic failure for the country. Yes, the argument fits into the narrative of the opposition, particularly the Congress, that the stature of India, once considered to be among the most influential players in the global south as well as South Asia, has been diminished.
India’s stand since the beginning of the war, that it did not condemn the US-Israel attack on Iran is being held as the main reason of it getting ‘side lined’ from the ‘ceasefire negotiating table’. India did not have any other option than the one it availed at the beginning of the war. India has a much stronger relationship with Israel than Iran. India and Israel are strategic partners. Israel has been of immense support to India in terms of intelligence inputs and technical knowhow. During Operation Sindoor, Israel’s support to India was crucial and is well documented and well known. Compared to that, Iran was at best seen to be neutral although tilted towards Pakistan.
There are about one crore Indians living in the Gulf countries excluding Iran. All these countries are on the opposite side of Iran. Compared to that there are just about 10,000 Indians living in Iran. That was also one of the important factors that shaped India’s response during this war.
As regards the ceasefire and Pakistan’s important role in it, there are multiple factors. Pakistan obviously was not the only country involved. There were two other countries, Egypt and Turkey, which played an equally important role to broker the negotiations. All these including Iran, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are Islamic countries and all of these are members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). The sentiment of ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ (nothing to do with the organisation bearing the same name) did play an important role in all of them coming together.
Above everything else, is the special “personal equation” between US President Donald Trump and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, who actually is the de facto ruler of Pakistan, for whatever reasons. Munir knows how to massage Trump’s ego. Unlike India, Pakistan endorsed Trump’s claim for Nobel Peace Prize. Unlike India, Pakistan did not contradict Trump’s claims of ending the India-Pakistan war. Unlike India, Pakistan did not stand up to Trump’s fake claims. Pakistan, under Munir’s “leadership” accepted and agreed to whatever Trump said. India did not.
Also read: War pauses as US, Iran announce 2-week truce; Hormuz reopens
This also includes Munir’s special role in facilitating the Trump family’s crypto company Liberty Financials signing an agreement with the Pakistan government on crypto currency. Pakistan has also assured to provide some rare earths to the US. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, both have stakes in crypto business, enjoy a personal equation with Munir, who understandably has capitalised on it. The US-Iran war came as a godsend opportunity for Pakistan to grab the role of a peace broker.
Although peace in the Middle East is still fragile and with an unpredictable Trump, it is not certain how long it will hold. Besides, Israel is an equally important part of the Middle East war. Although it has endorsed Trump on ceasefire, it still continues to attack certain places, which have been covered under the ceasefire. But none of these uncertainties and shortcomings can diminish Pakistan’s important contribution in negotiating a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
At the same time, it is wrong to assume that Pakistan’s active involvement in facilitating the ceasefire in any way diminished India’s stature. It absolutely did not. India had no role in it. India has never played any role in the affairs of Islamic countries. Moreover, with Trump you will never be treated as an equal partner. Trump treats everyone as his subordinate, at times evenly bluntly and scornfully, the way he mentioned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman during a public address recently.
Such terms may be acceptable to a country like Pakistan that has its own compulsions, but certainly not India. India did what was in its best interests. India’s overall approach remained balanced. India did not take any sides, but it did provide humanitarian aid to Iran all through the war. Iran also reciprocated by allowing passage of some Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz during the blockade.
Presence at or absence from the negotiating table does not diminish India’s stature in any way. India is not in competition with Pakistan. Not every country in the world participates in truce agreements. There are only a few. Just because a country was not there, cannot be held against it.
Those beating breasts that India “lost” in stature as compared to Pakistan are actually trying to embarrass the country’s leadership for domestic political reasons. But then that is their exclusive domain—try to show someone down even if it means putting the country down in the process.
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