Pakistan's Army Chief Munir Leads US-Iran Mediation, Overshadowing Civilian Govt

"Pakistan has emerged as an unlikely diplomatic broker between Iran and the US, and Munir is widely seen as a key driving force," The Guardian reported on Friday.

"Pakistan's army chief was one of the few able to get the US and Iranian leadership on the phone, passing along messages as a trusted intermediary to both sides. It is widely acknowledged that the negotiations have been coordinated from Rawalpindi, the seat of the army, rather than Islamabad, the seat of the parliament," it added.

Speaking to the newspaper, Pakistan's former ambassador to the UN, the US and the UK, Maleeha Lodhi, said that it is indeed the army chief who is "the driving force", adding that the negotiations would not work without him.

"The foreign ministry is just a junior partner. Countries like Iran and the US have this confidence in Asim Munir. Our government ministers are really an adjunct," she further stated.

Islamabad's media had earlier noted Munir "making history" by becoming the first serving military leader to meet a sitting US President without holding any political office. On June 18, 2025, he met US President Donald Trump at the White House. The visit included a formal lunch with the President and discussions with members of the US Cabinet.

Reports suggest that in the US-Iran mediation efforts, President Trump primarily interacted with the Army Chief rather than Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reflecting a clear preference for Munir in back-channel diplomacy. On several occasions, Trump has made it apparent that he relies more on Munir than on the Prime Minister.

According to The Guardian report, "Trump is said to have directly leaned on Munir to use his influence and knowledge of the Iranians to help reach the off-ramp. And when the US and Iranian delegations met in Islamabad on Saturday, Munir was the third party in the room."

Earlier developments in Pakistan point to a structural consolidation of military power. The 27th Constitutional Amendment, passed in November 2025, established the military's supremacy by creating a Chief of Defence Forces position held by the Army Chief, granting command over the Navy and the Air Force. It also provides lifetime legal immunity to five-star officers such as Field Marshal Asim Munir, shielding them from prosecution and effectively removing civilian oversight mechanisms.

This has deepened concerns over fragile civilian governance, with reports highlighting persistent risks of corruption, human rights abuses, and the suppression of opposition under military influence.

While Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator in the US-Iran conflict -- having hosted an earlier inconclusive round of talks in Islamabad amid a fragile ceasefire -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly credited Munir with playing a "crucial role" in relaying messages between Washington and Tehran.

Subsequent developments include Munir's visit to Tehran with a delegation, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, aimed at advancing a second round of talks before the ceasefire expires.

Munir's elevation to Field Marshal in May 2025, despite military setbacks against India during Operation Sindoor, is widely seen as a strategic move to consolidate power and insulate him from internal rivals. His personal rapport with US President Donald Trump has further positioned him as the key interlocutor, leveraging ties with both Tehran and Washington.

Civilian leaders, including the Prime Minister, have largely deferred to him, as reflected in Sharif's repeated public endorsements of the military's readiness and Munir's diplomatic outreach.

The Sharif-led government continues to rely heavily on military backing, evident in its support for the 27th Amendment despite international criticism from organisations such as the International Commission of Jurists, which termed it an "attack on judicial independence".

This dependency further tilts the Rawalpindi-Islamabad power equation, with politicians facing the risk of ouster, imprisonment, or worse if they challenge the establishment - as seen in past instances such as the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The ongoing mediation effort appears to hinge significantly on the army chief, sidelining the Prime Minister and signalling potential risks to civilian authority if the talks fail. While Munir's prominence may enhance Pakistan's geopolitical relevance, it comes at the cost of democratic balance, effectively institutionalising a military veto over policy.

If the mediation succeeds, it could further elevate Munir's stature and deepen civilian marginalisation; if it fails, it may trigger internal backlash against Sharif's coalition. Analysts warn that this dynamic could introduce fresh volatility, with Pakistan's history of military interventions continuing to limit the autonomy of elected governments.

- IANS