Islamabad Gambit: Ishaq Dar Reveals Pakistan’s Failed ‘Mega Mediation’ Between Iran & West | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 19:04 IST

The revelations paint a picture of a missed opportunity for peace, thwarted by the unpredictable escalation of hostilities across the Persian Gulf

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has provided a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Islamabad’s high-stakes attempt to prevent the current regional conflagration, CNN-News18 has learnt. According to Dar, the Pakistani leadership—comprising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir—embarked on a “head-over-heels" diplomatic mission to facilitate a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington before the situation spiralled into open warfare.

The revelations paint a picture of a missed opportunity for peace, thwarted by the unpredictable escalation of hostilities across the Persian Gulf.

Minister Dar disclosed that Islamabad had positioned itself as a neutral ground for secret negotiations. “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif made tireless efforts to mediate negotiations between Iran and the United States," Dar stated. He confirmed that Pakistan had expressed a distinct “delight" in hosting these meditations in Islamabad, hoping to leverage its historic ties with both the Islamic Republic and the West to prevent Operation Epic Fury.

This “Islamabad Gambit" was reportedly designed to create a de-escalation roadmap that would have secured Iran’s borders while addressing American security concerns.

Perhaps the most significant revelation was Pakistan’s plan to build a massive regional consensus. Dar claimed that had Iran exercised restraint, Pakistan was prepared to rally the powerful Gulf monarchies to Tehran’s side of the negotiating table.

“If Iran had not attacked the Gulf countries, we would have rallied those countries to our side as well," Dar lamented. He suggested that Iran’s decision to launch strikes against Gulf targets—under the pretext that American bases were being used for operations—shattered the regional unity Islamabad was trying to curate. By attacking its neighbours, Dar argued, Iran effectively alienated the very partners who could have provided a diplomatic shield against US-Israeli aggression.

Addressing the recent strikes within Iranian territory, Dar emphasised that Pakistan’s stance remains principled. “We immediately condemned the attack on Iran, which is on record," he noted, referring to Islamabad’s swift response to the February 28 blitz.

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister touched upon the volatile western border, indicating a unified front between the civilian government and the military establishment regarding the Taliban-led administration. “Me and the Field Marshal both want good relations with Afghanistan," Dar stated, signalling that despite the chaos in West Asia, Pakistan remains committed to a stable and cooperative relationship with Kabul to prevent a two-front security crisis.

Ishaq Dar’s remarks suggest that while Pakistan remains a pivotal player in West Asian diplomacy, its influence is being tested by the rapid military escalations of its neighbours. The “Field Marshal and the Prime Minister" duo appears to have attempted a historic diplomatic “grand slam", only to see it unravel as regional trust evaporated following the strikes on Gulf oil and military infrastructure.

News world Islamabad Gambit: Ishaq Dar Reveals Pakistan’s Failed ‘Mega Mediation’ Between Iran & West | Exclusive Details

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