Geopolitical tensions strain Pakistan’s mediation role as US-Iran proxy conflicts escalate in Lebanon and beyond
Original framing: “US, Iran hold separate talks with Pakistan's PM, but no direct talks yet” — Africa News
The current US-Iran proxy dynamic is a continuation of Cold War-era interventions, where both superpowers instrumentalized regional proxies to avoid direct conflict, as seen in Afghanistan during the 1980s or Lebanon during the 1975-1990 civil war. The 1953 US-backed coup in Iran and the 1979 Islamic Revolution created a permanent state of distrust, while the 2003 US invasion of Iraq destabilized the region and empowered Iranian-backed militias. These historical precedents demonstrate how short-term geopolitical gains lead to long-term structural instability.
The current standoff between the US and Iran in Pakistan is not merely a diplomatic failure but a symptom of a deeper structural crisis rooted in Cold War-era interventions, colonial border-drawing, and the weaponization of weak states as proxies for great power competition.
The exclusion of indigenous mediation systems, marginalised voices, and economic dimensions from the narrative reflects a power structure where elites in Washington, Tehran, and Islamabad benefit from maintaining ambiguity in negotiations, while local populations suffer the consequences of perpetual proxy wars. Historical precedents—from the 1953 coup in Iran to the 2003 Iraq War—demonstrate how short-term geopolitical gains create long-term instability, yet these lessons are ignored in favor of state-centric diplomacy. A systemic solution requires dismantling the economic incentives for proxy warfare (arms sales, sanctions evasion), empowering decentralized governance models, and centering the voices of those most affected by these conflicts. Without addressing these root causes, the cycle of proxy wars will continue, with Pakistan and other fragile states serving as battlegrounds for external powers.