Kathmandu— Pakistan finds itself at the crossroads of Iran-US tensions, leveraging its relationships with all parties to maintain a strategic balance. The country's geographical and economic ties to Iran, the Gulf states, and the United States create a complex web of interests that Pakistan must navigate to avoid alignment with any one side. This balancing act is driven by necessity, as Pakistan's economic exposure to regional conflicts and its security concerns necessitate maintaining connections with all parties involved.

Conclusion: Diplomacy Grounded in National Interest

Pakistan's experience points to a broader reality of an increasingly fragmented international order. States do not always gain influence by choosing a bloc. Some gain it by maintaining relationships across competing blocs. However, there are limits to this strategy. Strategic connectivity produces influence only when competing actors continue to trust the intermediary's access. Once balancing is perceived as alignment, the diplomatic value of that connectivity begins to disappear. Pakistan cannot determine whether Washington and Tehran ultimately choose compromise or confrontation. Nor can it insulate itself completely from the consequences of their decisions. What it can do is preserve communication across political divides and resist pressure to reduce a complicated regional environment to a choice between rival camps. For Islamabad, this strategy combines diplomatic choice with the realities of geography and economic interdependence. Iran will remain its neighbour. The Gulf will remain central to its economic interests. Washington will continue to matter. None of these relationships can easily substitute for the others.

Pakistan's balancing act is driven by necessity and economic exposure, providing it with significant diplomatic leverage. However, maintaining this balance requires strategic autonomy and the ability to resist exclusive alignment.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

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Originally published on abcnews.com.np.