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ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is confident in its ability to weather the gathering storm in the Middle East as tensions over Iran threaten to redraw regional fault lines, senior officials said, insisting that Islamabad’s first priority remains protecting its core national interests.
Officials close to the deliberations told the Express PK Press Club on Wednesday that Pakistan was closely monitoring developments, fearing a wider conflagration involving Iran and Gulf countries.
“The situation is fluid, but we have handled it well so far,” said a senior official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “Our goal is to safeguard Pakistan’s economic and security interests while avoiding getting involved in bloc politics.”
Pakistan unequivocally condemned the attack on Iran, calling it a violation of sovereignty and international law. At the same time, Islamabad also denounced Iranian retaliation targeting Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, with which Pakistan has a long-standing security partnership.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently told the Senate that Pakistan had reminded Tehran of its mutual defense agreement with Riyadh. Although couched in diplomatic language, officials described the move as a subtle but clear message to Iran to avoid an escalation of tensions with Saudi Arabia.
“We expressed our position responsibly,” said a source close to the diplomatic exchanges. “Pakistan has a defense pact with Saudi Arabia. It was important to remind the Iranian side of this agreement so that there is no miscalculation.”
However, officials were quick to emphasize that Islamabad was not seeking to antagonize Iran. In a symbolic gesture reflecting the delicate balance Pakistan is trying to maintain, Dar visited the Iranian embassy on Wednesday to offer condolences over the death of Iran’s supreme leader. The visit was seen as an effort to underline Pakistan’s desire to maintain stable and cordial relations with its western neighbor despite growing regional turbulence.
“Pakistan has maintained contact with all relevant stakeholders,” another senior official said. “We are engaging calmly and constructively. The goal is de-escalation, not scoring points.”
The officials said the government was actively evaluating several scenarios, including the possibility of protracted conflict, regime instability in Iran or further spillover into the Gulf. While acknowledging that the situation remains unpredictable, they expressed cautious optimism that the crisis will not escalate into a protracted war.
“There is concern, certainly, but there is also confidence,” noted an official. “Pakistan is not a party to the conflict. Some of the widespread fears that Pakistan could be next are unfounded.”
Security agencies, sources said, have been tasked with assessing potential repercussions, including sectarian tensions, cross-border security risks and impact on Pakistani nationals working in the Gulf.
“We have plans in place to deal with any eventuality, including possible changes in the Iranian political setup,” the source added.
However, the most immediate concern for Islamabad is economic rather than military. Officials said disruption to oil and gas supplies due to instability in the Gulf, particularly if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed or partially blocked, poses a significant risk to Pakistan’s already fragile economy.
“The energy dimension is the major concern at this stage,” said another official. “Any prolonged interruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will have direct implications for us.”
In anticipation of such a scenario, Pakistan has already contacted Saudi Arabia to explore alternative arrangements for oil shipments.
“We urge the Saudi authorities to explore alternatives so that our energy security is not compromised,” the official said.
Pakistan’s balance reflects its complex geopolitical position, sharing a border with Iran while maintaining deep strategic and economic ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Over the years, Islamabad has sought to avoid getting drawn into regional rivalries, even offering to mediate during previous episodes of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Diplomatic sources said this approach remained unchanged. “Our message to all parties is simple: de-escalate the situation, exercise restraint and avoid measures that could destabilize the region as a whole,” an official said.
