United States and Pakistan commit to joint efforts in fostering tranquility within the Middle East region.
A Layman's Take on US-Pakistan Collaboration for Middle East Peace
News Flash: The US and Pakistan have decided to unite forces for peace in the Middle East after a tense 12-day showdown between Iran and Israel. This decision was made following a phone conversation between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The chaos began with Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, leading to tensions that were already high due to Israel's war in Gaza, which commenced in October 2023. Things got bumpier after the US bombarded three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, with President Trump claiming this move set Iran's nuclear program back by years.
Pakistan has been working behind the scenes to cool things down with regional partners such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, and Qatar. The situation went south when Iran retaliated by striking a US base in Qatar, sparking fears of further involvement from other nations.
The US State Department made it clear that Secretary Rubio stresses Iran cannot develop or acquire nuclear weapons. Post their talk, he released a statement expressing this concern. The two leaders agreed on the importance of working together to establish a long-lasting peace between Israel and Iran and ensuring regional stability.
Israel, considered the only Middle Eastern country believed to possess nuclear weapons, declared its fight against Iran aimed to stop Tehran from developing its own atomic weapons. Unlike Israel, Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Pakistan strongly condemned the Israeli and US attacks on Iran, cautioning all parties to adhere to international law and the UN charter principles. Following their conversation, the Prime Minister's office released a statement, emphasizing Pakistan's ongoing role in creating peace within the Middle East, expressing gratitude for the US's role in previous ceasefires, and raising interest in intensifying trade ties with the US.
Recently, Pakistan has publicly thanked the US President for their part in mediating a four-day military standoff with India last month. Both nations exchanged a lethal barrage of missiles, fighter jets, artillery fire, and drone attacks, resulting in over 70 casualties on each side before the US announced a ceasefire on May 10.
Even though the ceasefire still holds strong, India refuses to change its stance on suspending a decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan. Islamabad has made it clear that any actions aimed at stopping or diverting water will be viewed as an "act of war" and may lead to further legal challenges.
During their chat, Prime Minister Sharif praised the crucial role the US played in the Pakistan-India ceasefire while expressing his eagerness to bolster the Pakistan-US relationship through increased trade activities.
In essence, the US-Pakistan collaboration right now looks like an active exchange of diplomatic dialogue, shared goals of peace and stability, and joint efforts to manage the aftermath of recent Iran-Israel conflicts, with ongoing negotiations and regional diplomatic maneuvering to prevent any additional turmoil.
- The situation in the Middle East, sparked by the tit-for-tat war between Iran and Israel, has led to increased discussions about peace, with Saudi Arabia also involved, as Pakistan has been working with regional partners to cool down the tensions.
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, the US and Pakistan have agreed to collaborate, aiming to establish long-lasting peace between Israel and Iran, and ensuring regional stability.
- In the realm of general-news, it was reported that Pakistan strongly condemned the Israeli and US attacks on Iran, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law and the UN charter principles.
- As part of their diplomatic efforts, Pakistan has expressed interest in intensifying trade ties with the US, a move that reflects the growing collaboration between the two nations in managing conflicts in the Middle East.
