Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye engaged in back-channel diplomacy for US-Iran de-escalation: official

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, along with Turkiye and Egypt, is engaged in "active back-channel diplomacy" aimed at bridging the gap between the United States and Iran, an official source confirmed on Monday.

According to a report in Dawn, officials in Pakistan disclosed that through this active back-channel effort — involving US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — the three countries were carrying out "quiet communication" to help restore peace.

The official source described the trilateral effort as a "strategic synergy" between Ankara, Cairo and Islamabad, stating that it had established a "vital diplomatic conduit, demonstrating that regional cooperation is the most effective antidote to escalation."

Trump postpones military strikes

The diplomatic development came after US President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered a postponement of any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days. The announcement was made hours ahead of a deadline that had threatened further escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

Trump claimed that the United States and Iran had held "very good and constructive" talks over the past two days. However, Iran has denied holding any direct talks with the US, presenting a contrasting account of the diplomatic exchanges.

Regional diplomatic push

The involvement of Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt in the behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts underscores the growing role of regional powers in attempting to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran. The three nations appear to be positioning themselves as key intermediaries in the standoff, leveraging their respective relationships with both sides to facilitate communication.

The back-channel diplomacy represents a significant coordinated effort by the three Muslim-majority nations, each of which maintains diplomatic ties with both the United States and Iran. The official source's characterisation of the arrangement as a "vital diplomatic conduit" suggests an organised and sustained effort rather than ad hoc communication.

The situation remains fluid, with the five-day postponement of potential US military action providing a narrow window for diplomatic efforts to yield results. The contrasting claims from the US and Iran regarding the nature and existence of their bilateral talks add a layer of complexity to the situation, making the role of intermediaries such as Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt all the more critical in establishing a reliable channel for de-escalation.