Caught between Iran and Saudi Arabia, can Pakistan stay neutral for long?

"The country shares a 900-kilometre (559 miles) border with Iran in its southwest, and millions of its workers are residents in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. Since September last year, Islamabad has also reinforced its decades-long ties with Riyadh by signing a formal mutual defence agreement that commits each side to treat aggression against the other as aggression against both."

"When US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, Pakistan condemned the attacks as unwarranted. Within hours, it also condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf states as blatant violations of sovereignty. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was attending an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Riyadh when the conflict began last week, launched what he later described as shuttle communication between Tehran and Riyadh."

Pakistan navigates a precarious geopolitical position amid intensifying conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces that has expanded to include Gulf states. With a 900-kilometer border with Iran and millions of workers in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan maintains competing interests. Since September, Islamabad formalized its alliance with Riyadh through a mutual defense agreement. As Iranian missiles and drones target Gulf nations, Pakistan has pursued diplomatic engagement with both sides, condemning US-Israeli strikes on Iran's leadership while simultaneously opposing Iranian attacks on Gulf states. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar conducted shuttle diplomacy between Tehran and Riyadh, attempting to maintain balance. Analysts warn this dual-track approach becomes increasingly difficult to sustain as the conflict escalates.

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