Pakistani media reports that Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar will depart for China tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31st, to hold emergency consultations with Chinese officials.

At today's Foreign Ministry press conference, Mao Ning hadn't even had time to announce this itinerary.

Notably, this visit is in response to an invitation from Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with both sides having spoken just days earlier on March 27th.

Foreign Minister Dar sustained a shoulder fracture the day before his departure but still traveled to China—Pakistan emphasizes that this demonstrates its "high regard for relations with China."

A major context for tomorrow’s visit is that Pakistan is preparing to host direct talks between the United States and Iran later this week—the first direct contact between the two sides since the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Dar’s visit to China is seen as a delicate balancing act.

First, Pakistan has long maintained close ties with Iran while also being a key non-NATO ally of the United States.

Pakistan and China, meanwhile, enjoy a “comprehensive strategic partnership” — making this visit, undertaken despite a shoulder fracture, particularly significant.

The specific details of the U.S.-Iran engagement remain under strict confidentiality. Prior consultation with China beforehand reflects coordinated action between Beijing and Islamabad. The implication is clear: Pakistan will not allow any U.S.-Iran contact to undermine the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan. China’s weight in the equation is underscored precisely by Foreign Minister Dar’s visit.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a pivotal mediator in the Middle East crisis.

The high-level four-nation meeting held over the weekend in Islamabad can be seen as preparatory work for the upcoming U.S.-Iran talks, coordinated by foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Pakistan’s emerging role as a regional diplomatic hub has already paid dividends.

Foreign Minister Dar’s visit to China tomorrow confirms that Pakistan has placed itself at the heart of diplomatic efforts, bringing along its most important and influential ally to increase the chances of success.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861093556893776/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.