Quiet diplomacy gains momentum: Pakistan’s mediation role may reopen Indo-Pak dialogue, says US think tank

MIRPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Apr, 2026) Pakistan’s understated yet strategic mediation in easing tensions between the United States and Iran could pave the way for renewed dialogue between India and Pakistan, potentially unlocking fresh avenues for resolving the long-standing Kashmir dispute, according to a US-based think tank.

These views were expressed by Raja Muzaffar, Chairman of the Kashmir Peace Committee and the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, in an exclusive interview, given to APP . He observed that while regional dynamics appear tense on the surface—with hardened rhetoric and diplomatic stagnation—there is a parallel track of quiet diplomacy and back-channel engagement shaping future outcomes.

Muzaffar commended Islamabad’s evolving role as a credible mediator, noting that recent tensions between Washington and Tehran had brought the region close to confrontation. He said Pakistan leveraged its diplomatic ties with key regional players, including Turkey and Egypt, to help de-escalate the situation. He also pointed to diplomatic efforts led by Asim Munir, which contributed to creating space for dialogue, including a temporary pause in potential escalation.

Highlighting broader geopolitical shifts, Muzaffar said Gulf states increasingly view Pakistan as a stabilizing force, a perception reinforced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s expanding diplomatic outreach, particularly with Qatar. However, he noted that despite India’s current reluctance to acknowledge Pakistan’s diplomatic role, there remain influential voices within India advocating dialogue.

Referring to strained India–Pakistan ties following Operation Sindoor, Muzaffar revealed that informal diplomatic channels—Track 1.5 and Track 2—have quietly resumed. He indicated that at least four back-channel meetings involving former diplomats and security-linked individuals have taken place in global hubs such as London, Muscat, Thailand, and Doha, facilitated by international think tanks.

Drawing on history, he cited a missed opportunity in 1964 when Jawaharlal Nehru released Sheikh Abdullah, leading to promising talks with Ayub Khan. However, Nehru’s sudden death derailed the process, eventually contributing to the Indo-Pak War of 1965. “Missing moments of dialogue is, in effect, inviting conflict,” Muzaffar emphasized.

Looking ahead, he proposed a series of confidence-building measures, including the release of political detainees such as Yasin Malik, humanitarian gestures, reduced tensions along the Line of Control, responsible media conduct, and institutionalized back-channel communication. He stressed that reviving the composite dialogue framework remains a practical path toward sustained engagement.

Concluding, Muzaffar said that despite prevailing uncertainty, quiet diplomacy and evolving regional dynamics signal that peace remains within reach. “The real question is not whether dialogue is possible,” he remarked, “but whether we can afford to lose another moment like 1964.”

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