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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Saeed Shah in Islamabad

Pakistan seeks to raise its global standing in push for Middle East peace

Asim Muir makes a pointing gesture with his hand as he walks alongside JD Vance on a red carpet with others following and soldiers standing to attention
Pakistan's chief of defence forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir (centre), welcomes the US vice-president, JD Vance, to Islamabad for the first round of US-Iran talks. Photograph: Getty Images

As Pakistan works frantically to narrow differences between Iran and the US in its newfound role as global peacemaker, it is also seeking to recast its diplomatic standing and attract business.

Pakistani officials, mediating between an unpredictable US president and hardliners in Tehran, were on Monday trying to coax both sides to put the conditions in place for a second round of talks in Islamabad this week, including easing the standoff in the strait of Hormuz. Pakistan was optimistic that the meeting would happen, viewing objections voiced by the Iranian side and Donald Trump’s threats as posturing for domestic audiences.

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