ISLAMABAD: In a stunning diplomatic breakthrough that could reshape the Middle East, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a direct telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
The call came as Islamabad boldly positions itself as the primary mediator to end the devastating US and Israeli war against Iran, now entering its fourth week.
Senior Pakistani officials have secretly facilitated back-channel communications between Tehran and key Trump aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to the same report citing two briefed sources.
This high-stakes engagement follows Trump’s announcement of a five-day postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power plants after describing recent talks as “very good and productive.”
The conflict, launched on February 28 with joint US-Israeli airstrikes, has already claimed more than 2,000 lives and displaced up to 3.2 million Iranians, according to multiple international estimates.
Oil prices have skyrocketed nearly 50 percent, pushing benchmark Brent crude to $106 per barrel and triggering global inflation fears not seen since the 1970s energy crisis.
Global stock markets have tumbled 5.5 percent since hostilities began, with Asian exchanges hit hardest amid fears of prolonged disruption.
Pakistan’s mediation drive, coordinated closely with Turkey and Egypt over the past 48 hours, has relayed critical messages to prevent further escalation and stabilise the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has maintained continuous contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, conveying solidarity with the Iranian people while urging dialogue among neighbours.
The Financial Times highlighted how Pakistani officials arranged discreet links between Iranian representatives and the US envoys, leveraging Islamabad’s unique ties with both capitals.
Pakistan represents Iranian interests in Washington, giving it unparalleled access that few other nations possess.
Trump’s decision to delay attacks on energy infrastructure is widely viewed as a direct outcome of these Pakistani-led efforts.
Earlier reports from Reuters had already signalled ongoing US-Iran communications, lending weight to the current back-channel momentum.
The war has exacted a massive financial toll, with the United States alone spending $16.5 billion in the first 12 days of operations.
Threats to the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe supply shocks, described by the International Energy Agency as the greatest global energy and food security challenge in history.
Analysts note that prolonged fighting could shave 0.3 percent off global GDP growth this year, with Europe facing at least a one-percent reduction in expected expansion.
Gulf economies stand particularly vulnerable, with projections of up to 14 percent GDP contraction in some states if the conflict extends.
Pakistan’s balanced foreign policy has earned rare international praise for maintaining relations with Washington, Beijing, Riyadh and Tehran simultaneously.
Field Marshal Munir’s personal rapport with President Trump, built through previous high-level engagements, has proven instrumental in this mediation push.
Regional media outlets including Geo News and Arab News have amplified the Financial Times revelations, underscoring Pakistan’s central role.
Speculation is growing that Islamabad could soon host direct talks involving Witkoff, Kushner and senior Iranian figures such as parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Such a development would mark a historic diplomatic achievement for Pakistan amid one of the most dangerous crises in recent decades.
With markets convulsed and Western alliances strained, Islamabad’s intervention offers a rare chance for de-escalation before the death toll climbs further.
Pakistan’s proactive leadership under Munir and Sharif demonstrates a clear preference for negotiation over confrontation in a volatile neighbourhood.
The coming days will test whether these back-channel efforts can deliver a complete resolution of hostilities, as Trump has publicly hoped.
This unfolding story underscores how middle powers like Pakistan can wield outsized influence when major powers clash.