Guess where the world’s most high-stakes peace talks were held recently? In Islamabad! Guess which nation was charged with being the neutral mediator in conducting these talks? Pakistan!
Sounds like a late-night comedy sketch, right? But no—this is real life. In a truly bizarre twist, Pakistan found itself brokering talks in the US–Iran conflict, something that affects the entire world’s peace and economy.
For Indians, this is especially hard to digest. Peace talks in Islamabad feel like hosting Alcoholics Anonymous in Janta Bar. Having Pakistan mediate is like asking the bartender to lead sobriety sessions—or a bald man teaching how to comb hair.
For the last thing anyone in India associates Pakistan with is peace. Right from its inception in 1947, from the violent Partition to now, when Pakistan is still engaged in conflict with neighbors right and left, quite literally. Guess where world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden, took refuge? Pakistan. Dawood Ibrahim too. There’s domestic strife, coups, leader assassinations, military takeovers—it is all a part of life in Pakistan.
And yet, suddenly in April 2026, Islamabad became the world’s go-to middleman. With both sides unwilling to talk directly, Pakistan played diplomatic courier pigeon—passing messages, nudging a ceasefire, and briefly becoming globally relevant.
Sure, the talks didn’t succeed. But Pakistan still had its moment in the spotlight—praised by the US, warmly acknowledged by Iran as brother, and briefly seated at the big boys’ table. For a country not used to this kind of legitimacy, it must have been a high like no other. Islambabad announced a two-day public holiday during the talks, citing security. I think they needed time off to just process the heady high!
Let’s face it—we were a bit jealous of all the attention our neighbor was getting. Our television media is a classic symptom, trying to diminish Pakistan’s role. However, flip the script. Imagine if India were doing the mediation and peace talks—if US and Iranian leaders descended on New Delhi instead. Imagine the collective orgasmic frenzy of the Indian TV channels. Or the number of posters all over the capital welcoming world leaders. The G20 summit was nothing. If we hosted the peace talks, there would be so many hoardings with pictures of the incoming guests, you would think the Iranian and US leadership were contesting MCD elections in Delhi. Indian media would cover everything—who ate what, for instance. There would be fusion menus—Iranian and American food with an Indian twist. Apple pie topped with rosewater phirni, anyone? Ah, damn it, we did miss all the excitement, didn’t we? Billionaire weddings and IPL finals are nothing—these peace talks would have kept the Indian media and our audience enthralled for weeks.
Oh well, never mind. It happens. Every creature has its day. Imagine two billionaires in a Rolls-Royce having a collision on a desolate highway in the middle of the night. The cars break down. The only hope is an rickety- auto driver who comes along, sputtering away. The billionaires are saved; the auto driver takes them home. For a few moments, the auto driver is a hero, even hanging out with the billionaires.
The next day, however, he’s back to being an auto driver, hustling for shared rides at Borivali local train station. Yes, that’s what happened to Pakistan.
There is a big element of luck in Pakistan getting this coveted role. Pakistan borders Iran, has a significant Shia population (like Iran), and buys Iranian oil, which makes the Iranians talk to them. Pakistan also has had historical ties with the USA. The current Field Marshal is particularly close to the US president, having said and done all the right things since Operation Sindoor.
Islamabad is hardly a safe venue. Such talks would typically have been held in a GCC city, like Doha or Muscat. However, this time the GCC is also dragged into the conflict. Somehow, this leaves little choice.
There was literally nothing else on that highway at night but that rickety auto— Pakistan lucked out. Good for them.
Jokes aside, on a serious note, it is worth thinking the implications this has for India. The mediation is a one-off event. It doesn’t fundamentally change Pakistan. However, it does earn them some brownie points, particularly with the USA. It also establishes them as a legitimate nation and diplomatic player. This is an antithesis to India’s attempt to delegitimize Pakistan’s government and position it as a troublemaking, “terroristan”-type state. Pakistan is now trying to change that script and get invited to parties we barred them from. Suddenly, many countries around the world may believe Pakistan is legitimate and a peacemaker. Too bad they don’t screen Dhurandar I and II at the UN, I guess.
How should India play this? First, we need to sit this one out. Cursing Pakistan, or diminishing its role right now, when they are having a rare, one-off moment, only makes us come across as insecure and having a ‘sour grapes’ reaction. Indian media, please calm down. Pakistan got lucky—it happens.
Second, instead of delegitimizing Pakistan, we can turn the tables now make it prove that it deserves to be a legitimate nation. If Pakistan is such a peacemaker, why not have a peace deal with India? Why not promise to resolve whatever differences we have through talks and non-violent means? Why not propose an India-Pakistan peace treaty? After all, how can the world’s hottest peacemaker say no to that right now?
Pakistan might have scored a few points on the global stage, mostly to a lucky sequence of events. India shouldn’t react emotionally, but rather stay calm and strategically respond by challenging Pakistan to live up to its newfound “peacemaker” image—especially by pursuing peace with India.
Pakistan had its moment in the sun—but how India responds could determine who benefits more in the long run.