About the Event
In the aftermath of direct confrontation between the United States and Iran – and a fragile ceasefire – crisis diplomacy has emerged as the critical tool to contain the conflict. In this moment of uncertainty, Pakistan has played a consequential, yet often underexamined, role, drawing on its relationships with major powers to help de-escalate a rapidly intensifying crisis.
This dialogue at the South Asia Institute will examine Pakistan’s strategic calculus as it navigates ties with the United States, China, and Arab partners while maintaining a historic relationship with Iran. The discussion will focus on how crisis diplomacy functions under pressure, what enables credible mediation between adversaries, and the limits of diplomacy in a volatile region.
At stake is not only the prevention of renewed conflict, but also a broader question: how trust is built, sustained, and leveraged – by both great powers and those who can bridge between them – to achieve enduring peace.
Doors open at 10:45 AM
Refreshments will be served after the talk.
RSVP
About the Speakers
Hina Rabbani Khar is a prominent Pakistani diplomat and politician serving her fourth term in parliament. She is Chair of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee and served as Pakistan's 26th Foreign Minister from 2011-13, the first woman to hold that position. She was elected as a Member of Parliament from her home constituency of Muzaffargarh on a seat previously held by her father, Ghulam Rabbani Khar. As Foreign Minister, she prioritized a ‘regional pivot’ towards Pakistan's neighbors: trade normalization with India, cooperative outreach towards Afghanistan, and bolstering economic ties with Iran and Central Asia. Ms. Khar has held many key ministerial roles in Economic Affairs and Finance. Whether in office or not, she continues to represent Pakistan on the world stage at forums like the Munich Security Conference, Paris Peace Forum, Davos, and various other regional and international events. In her private life, she is a proud mother of two daughters and a son, as well as an entrepreneur, climber, horse rider, and practitioner of yoga.
Dilawar Syed is an entrepreneur, and former U.S. cabinet official whose leadership has spanned various public and private sector organizations, including as Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration and Special Envoy for Commercial Affairs at the State Department. Dilawar served as America's top commercial diplomat in the Biden Administration championing U.S. companies in markets abroad and strengthening American competitiveness. He mobilized private sector support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion, advocated for strategic deals in advanced technology, energy, aviation, and defense, and negotiated market access in bilateral engagements across the globe. After his public service, he has joined UT Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and McCombs School of Business as faculty and has founded The LBJ Business Policy Forum.
Presented by
This event is presented with the LBJ School of Public Affairs and South Asia Institute at UT-Austin