Apr 30, 2026 15:37 pm IST

Opinion | Pak Is Finally Back In Middle East's 'Good Books'. But Can It Stay There?

This is both an enviable and challenging space to be in for the only Islamic nation in the world that has nuclear weapons.

Kabir Taneja Kabir Taneja Columnist

Kabir Taneja Columnist

US President Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, as both sides search for a continuation of dialogue amidst a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, has once again put Pakistan at the centre of a delicate diplomatic position as it plays the role of conduit between the Ayatollah and Trump.  

The diplomatic position Rawalpindi, and by association Islamabad, today finds itself in is expected to be a boon for the embattled country's international standing - but also, perhaps more narrowly, help it return into the good graces of the Middle East. This is both an enviable and challenging space to be in for the only Islamic nation in the world that has nuclear weapons. Anchoring these political overtures, at least in part, is a defence deal that Pakistan in 2025 signed with its long-standing patron and partner in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia. The deal saw mobilisation of a few thousand Pakistani soldiers accompanied by a fleet of fighter jets to bolster its Arab partner's defences amidst a US-Iran war that has spilt over across the region.

The Saudis have maintained a delicate balance in the war despite their energy........

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