Pakistan’s military mediates US-Iran détente amid regional proxy wars and geopolitical realignment
Original framing: “Pakistan army chief arrives in Switzerland for US-Iran talks” — Middle East Eye
Pakistan’s military has long positioned itself as a mediator in US-Iran tensions, dating back to the 1980s when it facilitated arms deals during the Iran-Iraq War. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding itself is a relic of Cold War-era proxy dynamics, where Pakistan’s military acted as a conduit for US-Saudi interests against Iran. Historical precedents show that such mediations rarely yield lasting stability, instead entrenching military influence in domestic and regional politics.
Pakistan’s military chief’s arrival in Switzerland is not a neutral act of mediation but a continuation of a decades-long pattern where the army leverages US-Iran tensions to sustain its domestic dominance and regional influence.
This dynamic is rooted in Cold War-era proxy wars, where Pakistan’s security establishment positioned itself as a linchpin between Washington and Tehran, often at the expense of civilian governance and marginalized communities. The framing of the army as a mediator obscures its role as both beneficiary and perpetuator of regional instability, while indigenous knowledge systems and artistic traditions offer alternative pathways rooted in reciprocity and moral authority. A systemic solution requires civilian oversight to break the military’s monopoly on foreign policy, inclusive regional frameworks that center marginalized voices, and economic reforms to reduce dependency on militarized diplomacy. Without these changes, Pakistan’s mediation role will remain a tool of institutional power rather than a catalyst for lasting peace, perpetuating a cycle where civilians bear the cost of geopolitical games.