Dar Says Pakistan Emerging as Global Peacemaker After Iran-US Talks

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in Lahore on Thursday that Pakistan was gaining recognition as a global peacemaker after its role in easing recent tensions between Iran and the United States. Speaking during his visit to Data Darbar, Dar framed the development as a major diplomatic shift for Islamabad at a time of heightened regional uncertainty.

Dar said Pakistan had helped create space for dialogue between Tehran and Washington after decades of hostility, arguing that the country’s recent diplomatic efforts had changed international perceptions. He maintained that attempts to portray Pakistan as isolated had failed, while Islamabad was now being discussed as a responsible state capable of contributing to stability beyond its borders.

The foreign minister linked the diplomatic breakthrough to Pakistan’s response during the latest Gulf tensions. According to Dar, Islamabad condemned the attack on Iran at the outset and then worked with regional and international partners to reduce the risk of further escalation. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with leading the initiative and also praised Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role in supporting the broader peace push.

Dar’s remarks carried both a foreign policy and domestic political message. He said Pakistan was no longer being viewed through the narrow lens of terrorism, but increasingly as a state with the ability to mediate, engage and build bridges. He also described Pakistan as a responsible nuclear power with the capacity to offer leadership within the Muslim world.

The statement comes after a series of high-profile diplomatic developments involving Iran, the United States and Pakistan. Islamabad has presented itself as a facilitator of dialogue, while recent contacts involving regional capitals have placed Pakistan’s foreign policy establishment in a more visible position. Dar suggested that this diplomatic moment should now be converted into stronger international confidence in Pakistan.

Alongside foreign policy, Dar turned to the economy and said the government’s next major task was to make Pakistan financially stronger. He argued that economic revival would be the natural follow-up to improved diplomatic standing, adding that the current administration was trying to place the country back on a path of recovery, development and public welfare.

Dar also criticised decisions taken by the previous government, saying they had damaged the national economy and created difficulties that required time to repair. He claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government had taken corrective steps to stabilise the country and restore momentum after a period of economic strain.

The deputy prime minister attended the ablution ceremony at Data Darbar as a special guest, where provincial ministers, lawmakers, senior officials and shrine administrators were also present. Dar said work on the expansion of Data Darbar was continuing, linking the visit to both religious observance and public engagement in Punjab’s capital.

For Pakistan, the diplomatic narrative may carry practical consequences if it helps improve regional trust, investor confidence and international engagement. The next test will be whether Islamabad can sustain its mediatory role while also translating global goodwill into economic opportunities, trade openings and stronger policy credibility at home.