Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions involving Iran and the United States, Pakistan has once again come into focus as a possible mediator. However, a parallel debate has resurfaced about who is truly in charge in Islamabad. Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has made a strong statement on this issue, suggesting that the country’s real authority currently lies not with the elected leadership but with the military.

Speaking in an interview with ANI, Chaudhry clearly stated that Pakistan is effectively being led by its Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. He emphasised that there is little doubt about where the decision-making power rests. On being asked who is heading the US-Iran mediation talks, Chaudhry said, “Frankly, there is no two opinions about that. Right now, Pakistan is led by General Asim Munir. He is the de facto leader of Pakistan. The decision-making right now is with the Field Marshal or CDF... Even yesterday, President Trump actually named General Asim Munir as the Leader of Pakistan, and he has not even bothered to talk about Shehbaz Sharif...”

His remarks come at a time when Pakistan is playing a key role in facilitating communication between Tehran and Washington. According to reports from Iran’s state media, a Pakistani delegation is currently heading to Tehran. The purpose of this visit is to deliver a message from the United States and to continue discussions that began earlier in Islamabad.

The visit is also expected to explore the possibility of a second round of talks between the two countries. News agency Reuters cited Iranian state media as saying that further dialogue could be planned soon. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, confirmed during a weekly press briefing that Tehran was likely to host the Pakistani delegation as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement.

This development follows a recent round of talks held in Islamabad over the weekend. Those discussions, however, did not lead to any concrete breakthrough. Despite this, communication between the two sides has not stopped. Baqaei acknowledged that messages have continued to be exchanged through Pakistan since the Iranian delegation returned home. He said, “Since Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan.”

At the same time, Iran has raised concerns about the nature of the demands made by the United States during these talks. Baqaei pointed out that some of the American expectations were difficult to accept. He stated that some of the US demands were “unreasonable and unrealistic,” although he did not provide further details on what those demands involved.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has indicated that efforts to restart talks are already underway. In an interview with the New York Post, he suggested that a new round of dialogue with Iran could take place in Pakistan very soon. He said that discussions were expected “over the next two days,” signalling urgency in the diplomatic process.

This comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in the region. The United States has imposed a naval blockade, claiming that it has effectively cut off Iran’s maritime trade. This move has added pressure on Tehran and increased the stakes for any diplomatic negotiations.

Pakistan’s role as a mediator in such a sensitive situation highlights its strategic importance. At the same time, Chaudhry’s remarks have once again drawn attention to the country’s internal power structure. His claim that the military leadership is taking key decisions suggests a shift away from civilian control, at least in matters of foreign policy and high-level negotiations.

As the situation continues to evolve, all eyes are on the upcoming interactions in Tehran. Whether Pakistan can successfully bridge the gap between the US and Iran remains uncertain. However, the developments so far underline the complexity of the negotiations and the multiple layers of influence shaping them.