Pakistan is once again caught between allies and adversaries. Islamabad finds itself pulled between powerful partners and dangerous neighbourhood realities, between competing risks. As war between Iran and the Gulf states continues to spiral, Islamabad’s response has been strikingly cautious. Officials insist there is “no question” of rushing to Saudi Arabia’s defence, even as they reaffirm a long standing strategic pact with Riyadh.
Time and again, it has aligned with stronger powers in conflicts that promised influence, aid or strategic leverage, only to face instability and blowback at home. Defence minister Khawaja Asif recently reminded lawmakers that Pakistan’s past involvements in foreign wars were never fought for its own purposes. “These were not our wars; they were superpower wars,” he said, adding bluntly that Pakistan had been “used… and then thrown away like toilet paper”. His words echo a longer narrative of strategic overreach.
