New Delhi, May 10 -- In a reality check on the "new world disorder," former Deputy National Security Advisor Arvind Gupta pulled back the curtain on Pakistan's frantic attempts to play peacemaker between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking with ANI, Gupta dismissed the notion of Islamabad as an "innocent mediator," suggesting instead that a desperate Iran may simply have run out of options.

"I still feel very surprised that Iran has put so much trust in Pakistan because Pakistan is not an innocent mediator. But still, probably there was no other option," said Gupta.

Gupta's assessment comes as Islamabad has aggressively sought to inflate its diplomatic standing in 2026, attempting to project itself as the central "primary intermediary" ami...