May 25, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, the central mediator between the United States and Iran, has arrived in Beijing alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for high-level talks with Chinese leaders, Pakistani television channels reported on Monday.
The army chief’s trip to Beijing comes immediately after his diplomatic mission to Tehran on Friday and Saturday, where he was accompanied by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as part of ongoing mediation efforts to formally conclude the war with Iran.
China has expressed its commitment to working closely with Pakistan to “make constructive contributions toward restoring peace and stability in the Middle East at the earliest possible date.”
Prime Minister Sharif commenced his four-day official visit to China on Saturday, starting in Hangzhou, the capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang Province.
Pakistan has emerged as the pivotal broker between Washington and Tehran after hosting historic face-to-face talks between U.S. and Iranian officials last month. Meanwhile, China has maintained a quieter, behind-the-scenes role, facilitating key meetings and phone consultations with officials from the war-torn Gulf region.
Footage broadcast by state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) showed Prime Minister Sharif alongside General Munir during meetings with Chinese leadership in Beijing, where the Prime Minister noted that “the world is currently passing through a highly critical crossroads.”
“Pakistan has made sincere and dedicated efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran,” Sharif stated during the broadcast. “Our army chief traveled to Tehran and did not want to miss this extraordinary opportunity. Everything is moving in the right direction, and we deeply appreciate China’s steadfast support in this peace process.”
Pakistan successfully hosted the only direct face-to-face talks between U.S. and Iranian officials since the outbreak of the war during the historic meetings in April. General Munir played a central role in those negotiations, personally welcoming the arriving delegations and engaging in extensive discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
However, those initial talks ultimately broke down without a finalized agreement, following accusations from Tehran that Washington was putting forward “excessive demands.”
