Pakistan has seized the opportunity to position itself as a mediator in the U.S.-Iran conflict. However, as has been the case with Qatar in mediating between Hamas and Israel, questions remain about whether Pakistan can function as a neutral intermediary.
In recent months, the Trump administration has strengthened relations with Pakistan, which holds Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the United States — a designation that grants privileged access to military cooperation and equipment. In the summer of 2025, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir (the real leader of Pakistan) visited the White House twice within a short period, underscoring the renewed engagement between Washington and Islamabad. The United States has also shown interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in emerging sectors, including the crypto industry. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s participation in the “Board of Peace” has further elevated its international profile. Yet, despite Washington’s willingness to engage Islamabad politically, economically and militarily, Pakistan has repeatedly demonstrated its unreliability as a strategic partner for the United States.
Following the events of October 7, Pakistan allowed Hamas representatives to operate freely on its soil, participate in public events, and forge alliances with local militant groups. Dr. Naji Zaheer, the current special representative of Hamas in Pakistan, was invited to participate in major events as a guest of honor and has become a fixture at anti-Israel rallies and conferences in Pakistan. Zaheer has often shared the stage with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), both designated as terrorist organizations by the United States and linked to attacks in India.
Pakistan’s anti-Western position became even more pronounced during the June 2025 12-Day War — the direct confrontation between Iran and a coalition of Israel and the United States — when Islamabad adopted a stance supportive of Iran. The visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Islamabad on August 2-3, 2025, was marked by highly visible displays of solidarity. For that occasion, the streets of Islamabad were extensively decorated with Pakistani and Iranian national flags, along with large posters celebrating the friendship between the two nations. Prominent displays featured portraits of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, and then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. One notable poster on a main road carried the slogan: “Long live Pak-Iran friendship and brotherhood.” Along the highway from the airport to the capital, banners welcomed the Iranian president, while images of Pezeshkian and Khamenei — alongside Pakistan’s leaders — filled the cityscape.
During his visit, Pezeshkian repeatedly thanked Pakistan for its “firm,” “heartening,” and “unwavering” support throughout the conflict. Pakistani president Zardari lauded the “bravery” of Iran during the recent 12-Day War, while Pakistani commerce minister Jam Kamal described Iran’s performance in the war as a “triumph” over Israel and the United States, declaring that Iran stood as the “crown of the Islamic Ummah” and that its actions were a source of immense pride for Muslims worldwide. Furthermore, during the 12-Day War, former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaee claimed that Pakistan had told Tehran it would retaliate with nuclear weapons against Israel if Israel were to use nuclear weapons against Iran. Rezaee stated: “Pakistan has stated that if Israel drops a nuclear bomb on Iran, it will drop a nuclear bomb of its own on Israel.” Pakistan denied the Iranian commander’s claim; however, its very articulation reflects how closely Iranian officials portrayed their relationship with Pakistan during the conflict.
This pattern continued into 2026. Amid reports of mass killings of civilians by the Islamic Republic, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reiterated support for Iran. On January 13, 2026, he emphasized that Iran has always been a dear neighbor and brother, and that its security and sovereignty are close to Pakistan’s heart. On January 20, the Pakistani defense minister in a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moghadam said that Pakistan stands firmly by Iran in all circumstances. Furthermore, on January 24, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its support at the UN Human Rights Council after Islamabad voted against a resolution expanding an international investigation into Iran’s violent crackdown on protests. In March 2026, following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, Pakistani PM Sharif even expressed condolences, describing Khamenei’s death as a “martyrdom” and emphasizing solidarity with the Iranian people “in their hour of grief and sorrow.”
Taken together, these actions raise significant doubts about Pakistan’s ability to be an impartial broker in the U.S.-Iran conflict. While Washington continues to invest trust in Islamabad, Pakistan’s conduct reflects a consistent pattern of prioritizing regional and ideological ties with Tehran over its strategic commitments to Washington. Pakistan should not be regarded as a mediator, but as an extremely problematic partner whose privileged status as Major Non-NATO Ally should get serious reconsideration.
americanthinker