From Geneva to Islamabad: How Pakistan became the new capital for diplomacy

LAHORE: When Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stepped off his aircraft in Islamabad on Tuesday, it was more than a routine state visit. His arrival marked his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. He was welcomed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. 

The symbolism was difficult to miss.

At a time when negotiations, ceasefire arrangements, and post-conflict diplomacy continue to shape the region's future, Pezeshkian chose Islamabad as his first foreign destination.

The visit capped months of diplomatic activity that gradually transformed Pakistan's capital from a regional political center into one of the most consequential diplomatic venues associated with the US-Iran crisis.

The turning point came on April 8, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a brokered ceasefire between the US and Iran. The agreement halted weeks of direct military confrontation and created the first meaningful opening for diplomacy since the conflict began.

Just days later, on April 11 and 12, senior American and Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan for what would become known as the Islamabad Talks.

Among the participants were US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and a range of regional interlocutors operating through diplomatic backchannels.

The 21-hour talks produced no final agreement but kept communication channels open and laid the groundwork for further negotiations at a time when direct engagement between the parties had become increasingly difficult. 

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding

Pakistan, alongside regional partners including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, continued its diplomatic engagement as negotiations progressed. 

The process later produced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a framework that outlined the path for further negotiations and helped sustain momentum toward a broader settlement. 

As talks expanded, Switzerland hosted parallel discussions that contributed to the diplomatic process and helped maintain channels of communication between the parties. 

Those efforts culminated in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar on June 22, announcing that Iran and the United States had agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days and immediately begin further technical talks. 

Yet the significance of recent diplomacy extends beyond any single agreement. 

The traditional model of international mediation centered on a single neutral venue is increasingly giving way to a more distributed system in which multiple capitals perform different diplomatic functions. 

While Geneva continues to provide institutional infrastructure for diplomacy, Islamabad has increasingly emerged as a venue capable of bringing together actors from across geopolitical divides. 

Pakistan's growing diplomatic influence

Unlike traditional neutral mediators, Pakistan's role has been shaped less by formal neutrality and more by its relationships. Islamabad maintains longstanding ties with Tehran while also engaging closely with Washington, Beijing and key Gulf partners.

The Iran negotiations demonstrated how those connections can be translated into diplomatic influence. Pakistan was able to engage stakeholders across the spectrum, helping create conditions for dialogue while other partners and venues sustained the broader process.

This is why Pezeshkian's visit matters.

His arrival is not simply another bilateral engagement between neighbouring countries. It reflects Pakistan's growing relevance within an evolving diplomatic landscape and highlights the role Islamabad has played in facilitating dialogue during one of the region's most consequential crises.

The events of recent months suggest that international diplomacy is increasingly taking place across interconnected hubs rather than a single location. In that evolving system, Islamabad has emerged as a significant address for regional diplomacy.