Trump Cancels US Delegation Visit to Pakistan for Iran Talks

From Islamabad, the cancellation of the US delegation's visit to Pakistan, which was meant to facilitate peace talks with Iran, is viewed with a mixture of disappointment and skepticism regarding American intentions. While the US delegation, including Jared Kushner, was expected to join discussions, President Trump's abrupt decision to pull out, citing dissatisfaction with Iran's negotiation stance, leaves Pakistan in a difficult position as a mediator.

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They give us a document that should have been better and lo and behold, as soon as I canceled, within 10 minutes we received a new document that was much better.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, concluded his visit to Islamabad, describing it as 'very successful' despite the US cancellation. His comments, suggesting doubt about Washington's commitment to diplomacy, resonate with a common sentiment in the region that US foreign policy can be unpredictable and driven by domestic political considerations rather than genuine diplomatic engagement. Pakistan, as a key regional player and a nation with its own complex relationship with both the US and Iran, finds itself navigating these diplomatic currents.

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We have all the leverage. They can call us anytime, but we are not going to fly 18 hours for no reason.

The narrative from Washington, as reported, focuses on Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy, where progress is measured by immediate concessions. However, from a Pakistani perspective, the emphasis is on the disruption caused to a carefully planned diplomatic effort and the potential implications for regional stability. The article highlights that Iran had initially stated no direct talks with the US were planned, with Pakistan serving as an intermediary. This underscores Pakistan's role as a facilitator, a position it seems keen to maintain despite the US's eleventh-hour withdrawal, as evidenced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's reaffirmation of Pakistan's commitment to facilitating lasting peace.

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No, it doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about that yet.