'Pakistan can play transformative role in fostering peace in West Asia'

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2026) Pakistan owing to its balanced foreign policy, strong diplomatic ties with key regional players, and a history of advocating dialogue over confrontation, has achieved the position to facilitate constructive engagement among rival states in West Asia.

With prudent diplomacy and visionary leadership, Pakistan can play a transformative role in fostering lasting peace in West Asia.

Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq stated this while sharing views with a student delegation from Journalism Department, school of Communication Studies, Punjab University here Sunday. Head of the Department, Prof Dr Mian Hanan Ahmad, was leading the delegation.

The PFC chief added that Pakistan is not viewed as pursuing hegemonic ambitions, which enhances its acceptability as a neutral mediator. Pakistan’s military professionalism and experience in peacekeeping missions under the United Nations strengthen its credentials in conflict resolution and stabilization efforts. By leveraging these strengths, he said, Pakistan can promote dialogue, reduce tensions, and encourage economic cooperation in a region often marred by instability.

Pakistan today stands at a pivotal moment, with a grand opportunity to emerge as a credible long-term peace broker in West Asia. Actively engaging in peace initiatives would not only elevate Pakistan’s international stature but also open avenues for economic partnerships, energy security, and regional connectivity.

With prudent diplomacy and visionary leadership. He said, Pakistan’s diplomacy to end the war between US-Israel-Iran has been in full swing and apparently these endeavours will yield positive results in the days to come.

Mian Kashif Ashfaq said the changing global political order has presented Pakistan with a strong opportunity to advance the ideological dimension of its strategic doctrine in West Asia while rethinking its core India-centric security outlook. He said, Pakistan will gain from the new global order as this will determine its future strategic course. So Pakistan has found a sense of relevance in the regional and global political order that it had long been seeking. In the changing world order, Pakistan can best be described as a swing state that provides maximum strategic flexibility for states capable of diversifying their interests.

Prof Mian Hanan Ahmad,speaking on the occasion, said that if this world order works for Pakistan, it is a grand opportunity for Pakistan to first act as mediator and second transitioning from a specialised security provider to a net security provider in the region and for this purpose it would have to alter its defence hardware and strategic software and adjust its Indian approach without compromising security, sovereignty and integrity.

Earlier, Dr Waqar Ch Arain, Advisor to CEO Chenone, welcomed the delegation and briefed them about the activities of PFC and its contribution towards promoting furniture industry and boosting exports.