Iran made an extraordinary diplomatic gesture when they proposed mediating between Pakistan and India to ease tensions in South Asia following recent incidents in Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LoC). Their offer comes amid renewed hostilities between these South Asian neighbors following incidents on both sides.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed deep concern at a press briefing in Tehran on Saturday about Pakistan and India’s increasingly heated rhetoric and potential conflict, not only within South Asia but for international peace and security as a whole. Regional stability is of vital importance.
“Pakistan and India can turn to us for help in reaching an amicable, lasting solution for their differences,” Amir-Abdollahian declared. Iran believes dialogue and diplomacy are the only effective approaches to solving conflicts, so if both sides agree we are willing to act as mediators.”
Iranian diplomats see this offer as part of their larger diplomatic effort to present themselves as responsible regional actors capable of brokering dialogue among rival nations. Tehran maintains good relations with both Islamabad and New Delhi, giving it a competitive advantage when playing an active role among rival nations.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have spiked following an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which India blames on groups from Pakistan. Islamabad strongly denied any involvement while accusing New Delhi of exploiting this incident to escalate tensions further and divert attention away from internal issues.
While neither India or Pakistan has responded officially to Iran’s offer of mediation, diplomatic sources indicate that Islamabad may be more open than India in accepting external facilitation for what they consider bilateral matters.
Regional analysts have welcomed Iran’s initiative while remaining cautious as to its chances of success. “Any effort to lower tensions is beneficial, yet both India and Pakistan have historically resisted external mediators being involved with sensitive issues like Kashmir,” noted Dr. Sameer Gupta of New Delhi-based South Asia expert group Insight Group International.
The international community – comprising both major powers like the US and China as well as other organizations such as the UN) has repeatedly encouraged both nations to engage in dialogue rather than take any actions that could spark wider conflicts. Iran’s move is yet another call for restraint and diplomacy at a time when tensions threaten to destabilize an already volatile region.
As events play out, all eyes will be on whether Pakistan and India are willing to pursue diplomatic solutions, while Iran tries to leverage their positions to get them back onto the negotiating table.