Pakistan’s Backchannel Diplomacy Drives U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Breakthrough

Although the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was publicly announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, diplomatic sources indicate that the breakthrough was the result of an intense and coordinated backchannel effort led by Pakistan’s top leadership.

According to senior officials, the agreement followed a series of high-level engagements spearheaded by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside Army Chief Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The initiative involved a rapid succession of late-night communications with key global stakeholders in what sources described as a “call blitz.”

These discussions reportedly included direct outreach to Trump and senior U.S. officials, Vice President JD Vance, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. The coordinated diplomatic push, conducted across multiple time zones, was aimed at building consensus around a temporary cessation of hostilities.

At the core of the initiative was a Pakistan-backed proposal outlining a two-week ceasefire, which was ultimately accepted by both Washington and Tehran. The proposal included a 15-day suspension of military operations, provisions for direct negotiations to be held in Islamabad on April 10, and Iran’s commitment to ensure safe maritime passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period. Iran also conveyed a 10-point framework for future negotiations with the United States through Pakistani intermediaries.

Diplomatic sources further indicated that China played a crucial role in the final stages of the agreement. In the closing hours before the ceasefire announcement, a senior Chinese official is said to have directly engaged with Vice President Vance, endorsing Pakistan’s proposal and urging Washington to accept the terms—an intervention that may have helped bridge remaining differences.

Shortly thereafter, Trump formally announced a two-week pause in military operations, aligning with the framework conveyed through Islamabad. Iranian officials also signalled their acceptance, with Araghchi confirming Tehran’s willingness to adhere to the arrangement.

Pakistan’s leadership publicly welcomed the development, with Sharif describing it as a “sagacious gesture” and extending a formal invitation to both parties to participate in talks in Islamabad.

Attention has now turned to April 10, when Pakistan is expected to host what could be the first formal round of negotiations between U.S. and Iranian representatives amid the ongoing crisis. Senior delegations, including Vice President Vance and high-ranking Iranian officials, are anticipated to attend, alongside representatives from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, China, and Russia.

Preparations are currently underway, with Pakistan’s foreign office initiating diplomatic outreach, issuing invitations, and coordinating logistical arrangements for what could prove to be a pivotal moment in the de-escalation process.