Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has moved beyond a host’s role to become an active intermediary in backchannel engagement between the United States and Iran, with military sources saying structured contacts are already underway and a second round of talks could be convened in Islamabad within days if Tehran confirms participation. Senior security officials told Business Recorder that US technical and logistics teams are on the ground, while Iran is engaging through controlled channels following initial hesitation. The focus of the current phase, they said, is not a comprehensive deal but managing escalation risks and stabilising the situation, particularly around sensitive maritime corridors where any miscalculation could trigger wider conflict. READ ALSO: Iranian delegation arrives for talks According to military sources, the mediation is being conducted through a calibrated sequencing approach. Immediate priorities include securing a workable pause, addressing security concerns in the Gulf, and establishing verifiable steps that both sides can incrementally commit to. While Washington is pushing for clearer commitments and monitoring mechanisms, Tehran’s posture remains conditional, shaped by recent developments at sea. Despite these gaps, officials noted that both sides are now interacting within a structured framework rather than relying on public signalling, marking a shift from exploratory engagement to a more operational phase of dialogue. Security sources described the next 48 hours as critical, indicating that a formal confirmation from Iran could pave the way for a more substantive second round in Islamabad. Even in the absence of a breakthrough, officials view the ongoing process as strategically significant, lowering the risk of direct confrontation and reinforcing Pakistan’s position as a functional stabilising channel in an increasingly volatile regional environment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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