Monitoring Desk: “Pakistan’s role in brokering a ceasefire between Iran and the United States has helped avert what could have been a devastating regional war, protecting not only Iran’s 90 million people but also millions of South Asian expatriate workers including Indians, Bengalis and Nepalis living across the Gulf”.
This was said by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi in an exclusive interview with Russian state television RT on Wednesday.
Ambassador Tirmizi described Pakistan’s diplomatic intervention as a critical effort that “saved not only humanity but several civilizations,” at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran had reached a dangerous peak. Ambassador Tirmizi reiterated that Pakistan’s leadership, including Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar played a key role in facilitating dialogue and maintaining communication channels with both capitals. He added they are still doing their best not only to extend ceasefire rather trading a permanent end of hostility of war in the region.
He noted that just a day before the breakthrough in talks, there were strong warnings of potential large-scale destruction. “We strongly believe Iran is a country of 90 million people with a 6,000-year-old civilization. It is not possible to eliminate a civilization. Pakistan tried its level best to ensure the situation did not escalate to that level,” he said.
Highlighting the broader human dimension, the ambassador emphasized that millions of expatriates working in the Gulf region would have been directly exposed to the fallout of any military conflict. According to his estimates, around 6 million Pakistanis, 10 million Indians, 5 million Bangladeshis, and 3 million Nepalis live and work in Gulf countries.
“These people are there to earn their livelihoods. Any escalation would have turned into a massive humanitarian tragedy,” Tirmizi warned, underscoring that Pakistan’s diplomatic push was driven by concern for regional stability and the safety of these communities.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s efforts were not limited to crisis management but extended to preventing a broader economic and ecological disaster. With nearly 22 percent of global oil supplies passing through the Gulf, any conflict could have disrupted international markets, triggering far-reaching consequences worldwide.
Ambassador Tirmizi also expressed concern over reported attacks near sensitive installations, including Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. He stressed that any strike on nuclear facilities could have had “devastating effects across the region,” including neighboring countries.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s role, the envoy said Islamabad was accepted by both Tehran and Washington as a neutral and trusted intermediary—an achievement he attributed to Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic credibility and balanced relations with both sides.
“This was the first direct engagement between the United States and Iran in 47 years. The fact that they agreed to sit together and eventually reached a ceasefire is itself a major achievement,” he said, adding that diplomacy should be seen as a continuous process rather than a one-time event.
He concluded by stressing that Pakistan remains committed to sustaining the peace process. “No matter how tense the situation becomes, ultimately everything is decided at the negotiating table. Pakistan will continue to encourage both sides to engage in dialogue, because any renewed escalation would be catastrophic,” he said.
The ambassador’s remarks underline Pakistan’s emerging role as a proactive diplomatic actor, whose intervention not only prevented a potential war but also safeguarded millions of vulnerable workers and preserved the stability of a region critical to the global economy.
Diplomacy is not an event, it’s a process, negotiations sometimes go over years — Pakistani diplomat Faisal Niaz Tirmizi on failed US-Iran talks, exclusively to RT
‘Pakistan knows for sure that ultimately, no matter what you say, everything is decided at the negotiating table’ pic.twitter.com/pHWOwiik3q
— RT (@RT_com) April 15, 2026
