ISLAMABAD: A majority of Pakistanis aware of their country’s role in mediating between the United States and Iran view the effort as a “major national victory,” with many saying it has improved the country’s global image and diplomatic standing, a new survey showed this week.
Pakistan has in recent weeks positioned itself as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran, hosting direct talks and facilitating backchannel diplomacy as tensions between the two sides escalated following military exchanges earlier this year.
Islamabad hosted the first round of direct talks between US and Iranian officials in April as part of efforts to de-escalate the crisis, though further engagement has faced uncertainty amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Against this backdrop, an Ipsos syndicated study conducted in Pakistan found that public awareness of the country’s mediation efforts has increased, with 74 percent of respondents saying they were aware of the initiative, up from 65 percent in an earlier survey wave.
“A majority of those aware of the efforts view these as a major national victory, expressing pride in Pakistan’s enhanced global image and strengthened international standing,” according to the Ipsos study findings released on Monday.
Among those aware of the mediation role, 45 percent described it as a “big win” for Pakistan, while 37 percent said it had improved the country’s global image, 33 percent cited stronger diplomacy and 31 percent believed it had enhanced Pakistan’s international standing.
The survey also found that respondents largely credited Pakistan’s civil and military leadership for the diplomatic effort, with 55 percent naming Field Marshal Asim Munir and 38 percent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while a smaller share recognized the role of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Respondents identified China as the leading external supporter of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, followed by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Russia, reflecting perceptions of broader geopolitical backing for Islamabad’s diplomatic role.
