India, April 9 -- As a fragile ceasefire briefly eased tensions in the Middle East after weeks of escalating conflict, new revelations have cast doubt on Pakistan's portrayal of itself as a neutral mediator.

While Islamabad publicly positioned its diplomacy as an independent effort to de-escalate hostilities between Iran and the United States, emerging reports suggest a more complex dynamic behind the scenes.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the initiative to secure a temporary ceasefire did not originate in Islamabad but was driven by Washington, which relied on Pakistan as an intermediary to communicate its terms to Tehran.

The development has raised questions about the extent of Pakistan's diplomatic autonomy during the...