U.S. senator questions Pakistan's role in Iran peace talksPakistan's role in Iran peace talks
A senior U.S. senator criticized Pakistan's role in Iran peace talks on Wednesday, saying the country's posture toward Israel and reports about Iranian military aircraft on Pakistani bases made it an unreliable mediator.
The comments came as Pakistan reiterated that it does not recognize Israel and defended its long-standing position. The dispute matters because Pakistan has been trying to present itself as a regional interlocutor while tensions around Iran and Israel remain high.
U.S. Senate criticism
The senator argued that Pakistan cannot serve as a neutral go-between if it hosts Iranian aircraft and uses rhetoric hostile to Israel. From this view, those factors raise doubts about Islamabad's ability to help shape any credible Iran-related diplomacy.
Pakistan's position
Pakistani officials said their stance toward Israel is longstanding and unambiguous, and they defended policies such as passport language that signal non-recognition. From this view, Pakistan is acting consistently with its own foreign policy and domestic positions.
- Pakistan was created in 1947 and has never established formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
- The U.S. Senate often uses public hearings to influence foreign policy debates without directly negotiating treaties.
- Iran and Pakistan share a long border that has made both security and diplomacy central to their relationship.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
