US Senator Cory Booker Says Pakistan Can Help Advance Middle East Peace
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: US Senator Cory Booker has said Pakistan is well positioned to play a constructive role in promoting peace in the Middle East, as he called for diplomacy and dialogue rather than further military escalation in the region.
Booker, a Democratic senator representing New Jersey and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the remarks while addressing a Pakistan Independence Day event in New York attended by members of the Pakistani-American community.
The senator stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement at a time of continuing tensions in the Middle East and said Pakistan could contribute to efforts aimed at finding peaceful solutions.
Pakistan’s relationships with both the United States and Iran give Islamabad potential diplomatic space to communicate with multiple sides in regional disputes, according to the original Pakistani report.
Booker’s comments are consistent with his broader public opposition to an expanded US military role in the Iran conflict. Earlier this year, he introduced a war powers resolution seeking to withdraw US forces from what he described as an unauthorised war with Iran.
Booker Calls for Diplomacy Over Military Action
Booker’s central message was that political dialogue should take precedence over further military action.
The senator said the United States needed diplomacy rather than additional bombing to address conflicts in the Middle East and identified Pakistan as a country capable of playing a constructive role in regional peace efforts.
His remarks carry additional significance because Booker sits on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been among Democratic lawmakers strongly critical of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict.
In April, Booker said he opposed further weapons for the conflict and called for a swift end to the war.
He has also argued publicly that a sustainable way out of the regional crisis requires renewed commitment to diplomatic pathways.
Pakistan Has Already Taken Part in Iran Diplomacy
Pakistan’s possible diplomatic role is not merely theoretical.
Earlier this year, Islamabad prepared to host peace talks involving Iran and the United States as regional governments sought to contain the widening conflict. Reuters reported in March that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt were involved in diplomatic efforts amid the crisis.
Pakistan subsequently participated alongside Qatar as a mediator in US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland in June.
During those negotiations, US Vice President JD Vance publicly referred to the United States, Israel, Pakistan and Qatar as participants in wider efforts towards regional peace.
Islamabad has repeatedly advocated negotiations and de-escalation while maintaining diplomatic relations with Tehran and close strategic engagement with Washington.
That position potentially allows Pakistan to communicate with governments that have sharply conflicting interests, although any formal mediation role ultimately depends on the willingness of the parties involved.
Booker Addresses Pakistani-American Community
Booker’s remarks came at an event organised by the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee to mark Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day in Westbury, New York.
During his address, Booker also praised Pakistani Americans and called for their voice in American civic life to become stronger and more influential.
The senator said members of the community had successfully pursued opportunities in the United States while contributing to American society.
Booker has previously advocated stronger US-Pakistan relations. In an earlier interview, he argued that closer cooperation with Pakistan was also in America’s interest, particularly in confronting terrorism.
His latest comments place that relationship within the wider Middle East diplomatic landscape, portraying Pakistan as a potential bridge in efforts to reduce tensions.
The remarks come as diplomacy remains critical to managing the consequences of the Iran conflict and maintaining regional stability, with disagreements over Iran, Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz continuing to test peace efforts.
For Pakistan, Booker’s statement also reflects growing international attention to Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement in a crisis that directly affects regional security, energy supplies and global trade.
