ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Senior analyst and journalist Najam Sethi has said that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership are fully aligned in their approach to ongoing diplomatic efforts, describing the coordination as a “joint platform” working towards regional stability.
Speaking in a televised discussion on India Today with journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Sethi stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the deputy prime minister, and the military leadership under Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir are in constant contact and operating with complete consensus on key foreign policy matters.
He highlighted that Pakistan’s recent high-level engagements across multiple countries reflect a coordinated strategy, with leadership delegations visiting Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye as part of ongoing diplomatic outreach.
“I think they’re absolutely 100% on the same page, which is why, as you know, while PM Shehbaz was in Türkiye and the Deputy PM was in Saudi Arabia, Field Marshal was in Iran, and so on. So they are working together to get this thing done,” Najam Sethi responded to Sardesai.
Furthermore, answering another question, Sethi emphasized that Pakistan has established itself as a credible mediator on the global stage, adding that major world leaders are in contact with Islamabad and encouraging it to continue its role in facilitating dialogue.
“My understanding is, in fact, knowledge is that all the top leaders of the world are in touch with Pakistan’s leadership and urging them to get on and continue to play this role. And even if nothing comes of it, everybody will know that Pakistan, of all the players in the world, did its best to get this done,” he said.
He further said that even if ongoing talks do not lead to immediate breakthroughs, Pakistan’s international standing has improved significantly, with its role as an “interlocutor” being widely recognized.
Addressing concerns regarding past allegations of cross-border terrorism, Sethi maintained that such issues belong to the past and asserted that the global community now views Pakistan differently.
“Pakistan has not been exporting terror, and the world knows this. And right now, the world is appreciative of Pakistan,” he added. “You know what happened in Op Sindoor; you did not get any sympathy from anywhere. Nobody believed your story. So let’s leave it there and not go into India-Pakistan in this discussion.”
He concluded that Pakistan’s growing diplomatic visibility, particularly in efforts to ease tensions in West Asia, reflects its increasing importance as a regional and international player.
