The Pakistani General Running Washington’s Backchannel to Tehran

As Washington and Tehran edge closer to escalation, the most critical line of communication keeping the crisis from spiraling is being run not by polished diplomats, but by an unlikely figure: a Pakistani general. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief, has quietly become the key intermediary in the U.S.-Iran standoff, managing what may be the most important backchannel between the two sides. The mediation has thrust Pakistan to the center of the crisis while exposing it to enormous risk.

That position is no accident. While others issued statements, Munir helped broker and later extend a temporary ceasefire, facilitated day-long direct talks between American and Iranian officials, and, most importantly, kept communication alive when both sides were pulling back. For those watching closely, his central role is hardly surprising, but it should give others pause. Under his watch, Pakistan has moved aggressively to court the Trump administration, from nominating President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize to pursuing ambitious deals in critical minerals and cryptocurrency, even as the substance and viability of those efforts remains questionable.

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