Pakistan has stepped into a delicate diplomatic role by hosting talks between the United States and Iran, balancing its relationship with neighbouring Tehran while maintaining ties with regional allies and Washington, one analyst told Reuters on Thursday (April 9).

Negotiations have entered a critical phase focused less on whether a deal is possible and more on how it can be structured, according to Kamran Bokhari, a senior resident fellow at the Middle East Policy Council in Washington, D.C.

Bokhari added that by playing the role of mediator, Pakistan could seek reciprocal assistance from the U.S., as it grapples with its own tensions and security challenges involving neighbouring Afghanistan.

The talks are expected to begin on Saturday (April 11).