Asif said that the government is engaged in daily diplomatic contacts with countries including Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar, in efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Iran’s foreign minister has held talks with top Pakistani officials to try and mediate in the escalation between Islamabad and New Delhi after last month’s deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.

With little leverage over India and Pakistan, Iran appears to be punching above its weight with the offer of mediation following the Pahalgam attack. But the outreach may not be about mediation at all.