India, April 8 -- In a last-minute diplomatic turn that seems to have pulled the region back from the brink of military escalation, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to planned strikes on Iran, crediting urgent backchannel appeals from Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir.

The pause - framed as both a strategic recalibration and an opening for negotiations - came just hours before the deadline he imposed for Iran, signalling a broader, coordinated diplomatic push. Pakistan emerged as the central intermediary, while China also reportedly played a role by reinforcing calls for de-escalation.

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Trump said, "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a...