The Saturday talks carry enormous weight. If they succeed, they could formalize the end of a war that drew in multiple state actors across the Middle East and introduced AI-driven warfare at an unprecedented scale. If they fail — or if Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue to escalate — the region could spiral back into open conflict.
The European position is clear: the ceasefire must be extended to Lebanon, and all parties must exercise restraint. But with Netanyahu showing no signs of pulling back, and Trump eager to declare victory regardless of conditions on the ground, the diplomats gathering in Islamabad face a task as delicate as it is consequential.
Pakistan, for its part, is betting that geography and goodwill can translate into geopolitical influence. The world will be watching as the Margalla Hills welcome jets carrying the men who hold the Middle East’s future in their hands.
