President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Pakistan was remarkable not only for the warmth of the welcome he received but also for what it revealed about the state of Pakistan-Iran relations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went well beyond routine diplomatic courtesies. Speaking alongside the Iranian president, he declared that Pakistan would never let Iran down and emphasised Pakistan's support for Iran's sovereignty and security.

Such statements carry weight. The depth of Pakistan's commitment is further reflected in the fact that both Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir are expected to attend the funeral ceremonies of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran next month, a gesture rarely extended by Pakistan at such a high level, while the US-Iran conflict has yet to be fully resolved.

These are not routine diplomatic courtesies. They underscore the importance Islamabad attaches to its relationship with Tehran and reflect Pakistan's emergence as one of the few states able to maintain productive relations simultaneously with Iran, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China. It is precisely this unique position that enabled Pakistan to play a constructive role during one of the most dangerous crises the Middle East has faced in decades.

The Iran conflict demonstrated how quickly the region could have descended into a much wider war. Israel's confrontation with Iran risked drawing in the United States, threatening regional energy routes and exposing Gulf states to retaliation. Had the escalation continued unchecked, the consequences for Iran would have been severe. Equally damaging would have been the economic and security repercussions for the Gulf, whose stability remains vital not only for the region but also for countries such as Pakistan.

Throughout the crisis, Pakistan consistently argued for restraint, diplomacy and de-escalation. It maintained channels with all sides and supported efforts aimed at preventing a conflict that threatened to engulf the entire region. While many actors were focused on military options, Islamabad repeatedly stressed that there could be no sustainable solution without dialogue.

That diplomacy was not an act of charity. Pakistan had every reason to prevent a wider war. Millions of Pakistanis work in the Gulf. Pakistan's economy is closely connected to Gulf stability. Energy markets, trade routes and regional security are all matters of direct national interest. Yet Pakistan also invested something more valuable than diplomatic effort. It invested credibility.

If Tehran approaches negotiations solely as a tactical exercise designed to gain economic concessions while avoiding meaningful compromises, scepticism will grow

If Tehran approaches negotiations solely as a tactical exercise designed to gain economic concessions while avoiding meaningful compromises, scepticism will grow

Today, Islamabad's standing in Washington is stronger than it has been for many years. Relations with Saudi Arabia have entered a phase in which the security of one has become inseparable from the security of the other. The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement formalises this reality. Beyond Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, there is growing discussion of a wider security arrangement bringing together leading Muslim states from the Gulf and the broader Middle East—including Qatar, Jordan, Türkiye and Egypt—to create a more coordinated........

© The Friday Times