US Defence Chief Praises Pakistan’s Role in Iran Peace Talks
United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has publicly praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role in US-Iran peace efforts, describing the growing engagement between Washington and Islamabad as an emerging “true friendship”. His remarks were made on Saturday during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, giving Pakistan’s regional diplomacy fresh international attention.
The statement came at a major security forum where defence officials, policymakers and strategic experts from across the world gathered to discuss Indo-Pacific security, military cooperation and regional threats. Hegseth’s comments were significant because they placed Pakistan directly inside the conversation on global peace diplomacy, rather than limiting Islamabad’s role to South Asian security affairs.
According to the remarks reported from the forum, Hegseth highlighted the part played by Pakistan’s leadership in ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. He referred to the role of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying their contribution to peace efforts was important and had helped deepen bilateral understanding.
The US defence secretary made the comments while responding to a question about missile capabilities and strategic threats in South Asia. The discussion followed earlier remarks by former US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard regarding Pakistan’s future missile programme and whether similar concerns should also apply to India’s Agni-VI project.
Hegseth said Washington was not currently treating either Pakistan or India as a direct threat to the United States. He acknowledged that both nuclear-capable neighbours view each other through their own security concerns, but added that the US was not pointing fingers at either side in the context of potential missile threats.
The remarks also reflected a wider shift in the tone of recent Pakistan-US exchanges. Washington has repeatedly acknowledged Islamabad’s role as an interlocutor between the United States and Iran, especially as diplomatic efforts continue to preserve the peace process and reduce the risk of renewed regional escalation.
Pakistan’s involvement in US-Iran diplomacy has become one of the most closely watched developments in its foreign policy. Islamabad has long attempted to position itself as a bridge in regional disputes, but the latest praise from a senior US defence official gives that effort stronger public validation at a time of intense global focus on the Middle East.
Hegseth also referred to the Pakistan-India ceasefire narrative promoted by US President Donald Trump after the May 2025 conflict. Washington has credited its diplomatic role in helping calm tensions, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected that version, keeping the issue politically sensitive in both South Asia and the United States.
For Pakistan, the statement could strengthen its diplomatic standing at a moment when the country is seeking better trade, security and strategic engagement with the United States. Recognition at a forum like the Shangri-La Dialogue may also help Islamabad project itself as a constructive actor in regional stability and conflict resolution.
The next phase will depend on how Pakistan, the United States and Iran manage the peace track in the coming weeks. If the process advances, Islamabad’s role could gain further importance, but any breakdown in talks may test the durability of the improved tone now being expressed by senior US officials.