Islamabad’s peace talk ambitions may be thwarted by the lack of peace

This article appeared as part of the Daily Sensemaker newsletter – one story a day to make sense of the world. To receive it in your inbox, featuring content exclusive to the newsletter, sign up for free here.

Having locked down a significant chunk of Islamabad, Pakistan is waiting to see if Iranian and American negotiators will show up for peace talks after Donald Trump extended a ceasefire. Its leaders believe this state of limbo is worth the potential dividends of acting as peacemaker. Pakistan has an arsenal of nuclear weapons, maintains good relations with both the US and China, and recently signed a security pact with Saudi Arabia. But this has not yet translated into diplomatic heft on the world stage. Proving itself useful to the Trump administration is a chance to increase its influence. This could help down the line as Pakistan competes with India, which has drawn the ire of Donald Trump over its purchases of Russian oil. Pakistan and India recently fought a border war over Kashmir.