Pakistan leans on US and Iran ties to emerge as potential peacebroker

ISLAMABAD, March 24 – Pakistan’s role as a possible host of talks aimed at ending the Iran war builds on its courtship of U.S. President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran’s Islamic Republic. If talks happen, it could raise Pakistan’s global prominence to heights not reached since Pakistan helped mediate the secret diplomatic opening that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. It would cap over a year of relationship building with Trump that has involved astute diplomacy and crypto deals. Pakistan, which maintains direct contact…