The two-day visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian – along with the agreements and MoUs signed – is a signal towards deepening bilateral cooperation between two key neighbours in the region, an intent to move beyond symbolism and focus on substantive collaboration. Particularly following the recent Israeli aggression against Iran, the visit was both symbolic and strategic. President Pezeshkian’s expression of gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering support during that crisis is also a testament to how, despite occasional disagreements, Iran and Pakistan have never fully turned away from each other. It is also becoming obvious that Iran increasingly views Pakistan as a trusted regional partner, especially when others have either remained silent or aligned with powers bent on isolating Tehran. The renewed push to link the Chabahar and Gwadar ports is particularly noteworthy. A joint Gwadar-Chabahar maritime route can serve as a crucial artery of connectivity in the region, linking Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Similarly, Iran’s interest in joining the CPEC under the broader Silk Road initiative would add momentum to regional integration at a time when global blocs are hardening and the world appears more fractured than ever. As for Pakistan’s support for Iran’s right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, that should not come as a surprise either. This has been a longstanding position and any criticism of it from India or elsewhere reflects more on the insecurity of detractors than on the legitimacy of Pakistan’s stance. In fact, India would do well to refrain from posturing as a regional gatekeeper. Its recent duplicity during the Israel-Iran conflict has not gone unnoticed, least of all by Tehran.
In contrast, Pakistan’s ability to maintain open channels with both Iran and the US has earned it quiet praise from diplomatic circles, including, reportedly, from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. If Pakistan is being looked upon as a potential mediator between Iran and the US, it is because Islamabad has avoided the trap of transactional diplomacy. Rather than being forced to ‘pick a side’ (which used to be a particularly sticky issue with us), Pakistan has pursued balance: deepening strategic ties with China while maintaining working relationships with the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as its direct neighbours. This balancing act is not accidental. It is the result of mature, pragmatic diplomacy that sees peace as a strategic necessity. A stable region is vital to Pakistan’s future And that stability must be built through cooperation, not coercion. As recent efforts have shown, Pakistan has, in many ways, emerged as one of the few rational voices in a region too often consumed by confrontation.
It is now imperative that this diplomatic maturity be matched with a clear-eyed economic strategy. Energy remains a major pain point for Pakistan. The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, conceived initially as a regional project involving India, has been a victim of global geopolitics and American sanctions pressure. Yet, as the energy crisis deepens and costs soar, experts are rightly arguing that Pakistan must prioritise its own needs. Iran, with its proximity and abundant natural gas, remains one of the most feasible solutions. Reviving the pipeline may not be easy – sanctions are still a real risk – but diplomacy must be used to carve out solutions. If peace and economic ties are indeed inextricably linked, as the US itself often proclaims, then Washington too must reconsider whether its policies are contributing to regional stability or further alienating countries that could be its partners. For Pakistan, the road ahead is clear: continue building bridges, uphold sovereign interests, and focus on people-centred development.