Why does Pakistan always maintain neutrality in Iranian affairs?
Pakistan has not accidentally assumed this mediating role. Its position today stems from geographical necessity, careful strategic planning, and diplomatic restraint.
The Close Geographical Proximity Between Iran and Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign policy toward Iran has never been entirely voluntary. The close geographic proximity of the two countries shapes and constrains Pakistan’s diplomacy. They share a border stretching 900 kilometers (565 miles). For Pakistan, Iran is both a transit corridor and an energy supplier, as well as a potential source of instability—especially in Balochistan, where cross-border armed conflicts have long tested bilateral relations. This geographic reality dictates Islamabad’s cautious neutrality toward Tehran—a policy that predates the current government and will endure beyond it.
The most vivid historical manifestation of this policy occurred during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, one of the most destructive conflicts of the 20th century. Despite immense pressure from Washington (which at the time tacitly supported Baghdad) and several Arab states funding Saddam Hussein’s war machine, Pakistan consistently refused to take sides. President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq maintained official neutrality even as much of the Sunni world aligned with Iraq, preserving pragmatic diplomatic ties with Tehran.
The 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution already demonstrated that unrest on the other side of the border would not remain contained. With no buffer zone and a significant Shia population within its own borders, Pakistan had to learn this lesson early.
As India deepens its relationship with Iran through the Chabahar Port project—a venture aimed at bypassing Pakistan to establish an alternative trade corridor to Central Asia—this concern has become even more urgent. Pakistan has witnessed Tehran’s role in Afghan politics, Baloch insurgency, and domestic sectarian conflicts within Pakistan.
In 2024, limited strikes by both countries against militant positions in border regions triggered temporary diplomatic rifts, but neither side could afford prolonged consequences. Relations were quickly restored. Each incident reinforced the same conclusion: for Pakistan, managing relations with Iran is not merely a diplomatic choice—it is a structural imperative.
Pakistan’s interests are deeply tied to the outcome of any negotiation. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would trigger oil price shocks. Pakistan relies almost entirely on imported energy, and sustained disruption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz means supply shortages and soaring import bills—an unbearable burden for a country long grappling with macroeconomic fragility.
Notably, regardless of what happens in Islamabad this weekend, Pakistan has already achieved some significant gains.
For years, India has pursued a strategy of marginalizing Pakistan: isolating it on issues of cross-border terrorism, excluding it from multilateral platforms, and portraying it as a destabilizing force rather than a responsible actor. This strategy has seen partial success. Pakistan often finds itself on the defensive in international forums, struggling to respond to narratives instead of setting the agenda.
But this mediation effort has reversed that dynamic. Now, Pakistan is convening negotiations between the world’s largest economy and one of the Middle East’s most influential nations. Regardless of the outcome, hosting these talks elevates Pakistan onto the global stage, positioning it among key diplomatic players—a distinction no joint communiqué or bilateral summit could achieve.
Even if the talks ultimately collapse due to irreconcilable differences, Pakistan will still gain higher international credibility and strengthen its ties with both Washington and Tehran. If successful, Islamabad could help forge a lasting framework between two nations that have openly clashed for months—yielding enormous diplomatic dividends. This would be one of the most impactful conflict mediations undertaken by a South Asian country in recent years. As Islamabad actively seeks international cooperation, this will significantly elevate Pakistan’s global standing. Pakistan is striving to reshape its image.
Pakistan assumes this role because all other options have been exhausted—and its own positioning makes it the only mediator both sides are willing to engage. When both Washington and Tehran respond to Islamabad’s call, it proves that Pakistan’s patient diplomacy has finally reached its moment.
Source: The National Interest
Author: M. Wasay Mir
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862140689762314/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.