Pakistan is positioning itself at the centre of a war it is uniquely placed to influence and cannot afford to ignore. This week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signalled Islamabad's readiness to host talks between the United States and Iran, leaning into growing speculation that backchannel negotiations were underway — despite firm public denials."Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East," he wrote on X, casting Islamabad as a willing broker in a conflict that is rapidly destabilising the region.But the public signals from Washington and Tehran were contradictory.Iran war live updates: For all the latest news on the Middle East war, read our blog.While US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed negotiations are underway, Iran has flatly rejected that, insisting publicly any end to the war would be on its terms.And yet, behind the rhetoric, there are reports of movement.Multiple US outlets report that Iranian officials have quietly indicated openness to talks, even as Tehran maintains a hard public line At the same time, Pakistan represents Iran's diplomatic interests in the United States — a sign of trust from the regime.It gives Islamabad credibility on both sides.There are already signs that access is translating into influence