Pakistan’s desperate attempt to play the role of a mediator between the United States and Iran has once again exposed its political and strategic opportunism and hypocrisy. Positioning itself as a neutral arbiter in West Asia-Middle East politics is not something that should surprise the world community in general and the strategic community in particular. Rather, this development should be seen as a carry forward from what Islamabad has been doing and backtracking from for the last 46 years.

The overall perception this time is that Pakistan is looking for a way out to divert attention from its own burgeoning domestic crises by projecting itself as a peacemaker in a conflict where an Islamic country is being mercilessly hammered by the US and Israel. However, by condemning the attacks on Iran, but taking care to avoid naming Washington, Islamabad has severely damaged its own impartiality- a key prerequisite for any consummate negotiator.

There’s another viewpoint that suggests that Pakistan is frantically attempting to neutralise India’s........

© Eurasia Review