Pakistan Mediates US-Iran Talks as Indian Opposition Slams Modi

The government of Pakistan has positioned itself as a diplomatic intermediary between the United States and Iran to end a conflict sparked by joint US-Israel strikes on February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. is communicating with a senior Iranian figure and announced a five-day pause on strikes against Iranian targets. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Asim Munir have engaged with both U.S. and Iranian leadership, proposing Islamabad as a venue for formal negotiations. The White House has remained cautious, stating that no meetings are final until officially announced.

In India, the development triggered a sharp political backlash. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called Pakistan's role a severe setback for India, arguing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February visit to Israel was a disastrous choice that cost India a mediating role. Rahul Gandhi further alleged that India's foreign policy has become Modi's personal project, claiming the Prime Minister is compromised and will follow directives from the U.S. and Israel rather than acting in the interest of Indian farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, describing the West Asia conflict as worrisome and comparing the needed national unity to the response during the Covid-19 pandemic. While Modi asserted that India maintains adequate crude oil reserves, opposition leader Sanjay Raut accused him of appearing depressed and losing control. Gandhi announced he would skip a government-called all-party meeting on March 25, citing a structural blunder in the meeting's organization.