Pakistan’s recent diplomatic moves have surprised many observers.
Reports suggest Islamabad passed along a 15-point US peace proposal to Iran and even offered to host negotiations between the two sides. While Tehran reportedly declined the offer, Pakistan has continued pushing forward.
Pakistan’s foreign minister also travelled to Beijing to seek China’s support for a five-point peace plan aimed at calming tensions.
For Pakistan, these actions signal a clear attempt to present itself as a diplomatic player in one of the world’s most volatile conflicts.
The optics matter. And those optics have raised eyebrows in India.
Rising Concerns in New Delhi
India’s government has dismissed the idea that it should be competing with Pakistan for mediator status.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reportedly responded sharply during a recent political meeting, describing Pakistan’s actions as “brokering diplomacy”.
According to reports, he pointed out that Pakistan has played intermediary roles before, including during negotiations between the US and the Taliban.
India, he suggested, does not chase opportunities to act as a middleman in international conflicts.
The government’s view is that diplomacy should be guided by strategic interests rather than visibility.
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Government’s Response: “We Don’t Do Broking”
It has been stated that India does not agree with another country acting as an intermediary between India and Pakistan, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has mentioned that while he was in a recent meeting, he described Pakistan’s actions as “brokering diplomacy”.
He also elaborated that in the past, Pakistan has acted as an intermediary between several countries, including during the negotiations between the US and the Taliban, and that India does not seek opportunities to be an intermediary for others in international conflicts.
The government’s opinion is that its international diplomatic activities will be guided by strategy rather than by visibility.
Experts Warn Against ‘Diplomatic FOMO’
Foreign policy experts say India’s internal debate reflects psychology, not strategy. According to Professor Happymon Jacob, Indian reactions may be rooted in a feeling of competitive anxiety. In other words, if Pakistani foreign policy receives increasing international attention, then Indian foreign policy needs to as well. Professor Jacob believes that jealousy or FOMO (fear of missing out) should not drive a country’s foreign policy. In his opinion, not every global crisis requires India to assume a leadership role.
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Why the US Might Turn to Pakistan
There is another question as to why Washington seems determined to try to diplomatically engage Pakistan. Some of the answer has to do with geography and regional relationships. Pakistan has been able to maintain working relations with both Iran and a number of Gulf nations; this is something that very few other countries have been able to do. This enables Pakistan to communicate across political divisions that often preclude direct negotiations. In addition, Pakistan has strong security relationships with the monarchies of the Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia, in which Pakistani military forces have played a historically supportive role. This security relationship gives Pakistan a form of leverage that many other countries do not possess.
Pakistan Has More at Stake
Some analysts believe Pakistan’s activism is driven less by ambition and more by necessity.
If the conflict escalates, Pakistan could face pressure to support Saudi Arabia or other Gulf allies.
That would create major economic and security challenges for the country.
Pakistan is also heavily dependent on energy imports that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route that could be disrupted by war.
In other words, Pakistan cannot simply sit on the sidelines.
Trying to reduce tensions may be the best option.
India’s Different Strategy
India’s attitude towards mediation has historically prioritised strategy and low-key diplomatic relations. Instead of trying to assist with mediation straight away, most Indian diplomats feel that India’s greatest contribution will be in using long-term tools for peacebuilding. Some believe that India’s greatest strengths are derived from using support through covert diplomatic means. Examples of this would include: 1) Back channel negotiations; 2) Humanitarian co-ordination; 3) Conflict de-escalation; 4) Securing safe trade routes. Although these activities may not attract a lot of publicity, they can still help provide stability during times of crisis.
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The Domestic Political Debate
The government’s careful posture domestically has led some to criticise it politically, mainly that the Indian government’s relaxed attitude towards the ongoing situation in Gaza and the bombings of Iran have signalled a tilt towards an overtly supportive pro-Israel foreign policy. Some of India’s critics assert that India needs to take a clearer stance on issues related to sovereignty and the protection of civilians when there are conflicts between countries. On the other hand, Indian government supporters say that careful diplomatic engagement with other actors in the region decreases Indian engagement in very complicated regional rivalries.
The Real Challenge for India
The crux of the debate about India’s future role in the world is based on expectations. As India grows economically and becomes more influential around the globe, there will be an expectation that it will take a more significant role in world affairs. The Indian government has consistently put forth a vision in which they claim to be the leader of the developing world and acts as a link between competing geopolitical blocs. However, experts caution that these ambitions need to be balanced by having the capability to meet them. Attempting to lead on all international crises may put pressure on India’s diplomatic resources and create unnecessary risks.
A Strategic Balancing Act
Currently, India seems to be happy with its strategic distance from developments in Pakistan while carefully observing events as they unfold. Pakistan may have short-term diplomatic attention; however, gaining long-term diplomatic influence will be much more difficult for them. Regardless of whether Pakistan is successful or unsuccessful in establishing mediation in the region, the larger question is how international powers — including India — will be engaged in establishing the long-term resolution to peace within the region. Many of the most impactful elements of diplomacy can occur in areas less present in the media. For India, the methods and processes by which they operate may include operating outside of the media’s reach.
Sometimes the most powerful diplomatic moves happen far away from the spotlight.
And for India, that may be exactly where it prefers to operate.
