Pakistan’s High-Wire Act Gets Riskier

The highlights this week: Pakistan deploys troops to Saudi Arabia per their mutual defense pact, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the United Arab Emirates amid growing ties, and Nepal’s new government opens an investigation into a short-lived minister. On Monday, Reuters reported that Pakistan had deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets, and an air defense system to Saudi Arabia as part of the mutual defense pact reached between the two countries last year. Part of this deplo

The development amplifies Pakistan’s diplomatic balancing act in the Middle East as it aims to play a prominent mediation role in the Iran war. To succeed, Islamabad must maintain Tehran’s trust as a neutral and credible intermediary, even as its ties with Riyadh, a major rival of Iran, grow deeper. It may seem surprising that Pakistan could find any balance in its relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia. But over nearly a decade, Pakistan has invested effort in projecting itself as a neutral player in the rivalry. A key turning point came in 2017, when Qamar Javed Bajwa became the first Pakistani Army chief to visit Iran in two decades. Imran Khan, who became prime minister the next year, pushed for better relations with Tehran, too, going as far as saying that Pakistan should “become like” Iran. The Iranian-Saudi rapprochement deal gave Pakistan additional diplomatic space to explore deepening its ties with Iran. Saudi Arabia has remained a critical Pakistani partner, despite some bumps in recent years, from its growing ties with India to a spat over Riyadh’s position on Kashmir. Other developments, including last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, give Islamabad added incentives to consolidate its defense alliance with Riyadh. Still, the decision to send so many troops and arms to Saudi Arabia at such a delicate moment in the Iran war is striking. There are a few likely explanations. One is Pakistan’s need to signal to Saudi Arabia its commitment to the defense pact.

Key points

• The development amplifies Pakistan’s diplomatic balancing act in the Middle East as it aims to play a prominent mediation role in the Iran war.
• To succeed, Islamabad must maintain Tehran’s trust as a neutral and credible intermediary, even as its ties with Riyadh, a major rival of Iran, grow deeper.
• It may seem surprising that Pakistan could find any balance in its relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
• But over nearly a decade, Pakistan has invested effort in projecting itself as a neutral player in the rivalry.
• A key turning point came in 2017, when Qamar Javed Bajwa became the first Pakistani Army chief to visit Iran in two decades.