Washington, January 8 (NationPress) Despite holding the status of a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) with the United States, which provides special access to military resources and collaboration, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated itself to be a questionable strategic partner, as noted in a recent report published on Thursday.

The report argues that Pakistan should not be regarded as a reliable ally, but rather as an extremely problematic partner, prompting a critical reassessment of its MNNA privileges.

According to the New York-based think tank Gatestone Institute, the preference of Pakistan's leadership for Iran over the United States—and Israel—illustrates why Washington finds it difficult to place trust in Islamabad, particularly concerning issues relating to Gaza.

“To this day, Pakistan has never acknowledged Israel. Furthermore, it was the first nation to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established it in 1979. Iran was also the first country to recognize Pakistan when it was founded in 1947. The trade between these neighboring nations amounts to approximately US$2.8 billion,” the report indicated.

The document emphasized that Pakistan officially characterizes its relationship with Iran as one based on fraternity and mutual regional interests, with significant alignment in their policy goals.

“Their shared viewpoint regarding Balochistan is noteworthy, as both governments see Baloch political activism as a direct threat to their territorial integrity and state authority. In November 2024, the late Major General Hossein Salami, who was then the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), met with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, who oversees the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The two committed to strengthening cooperation against the Baloch independence movements,” it stated.

The report also mentioned, “This alignment is further bolstered by shared economic interests with China. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a key component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and Iran seeks to integrate itself into both BRI and CPEC.”

It was highlighted that Pakistan's solidarity with Iran was starkly displayed during the June 2025 12-day conflict—a direct military confrontation between Iran and a coalition including Israel and the United States. Throughout this period, Pakistan stood firmly by Iran, expressing its unequivocal support for Tehran.

In the aftermath of the conflict, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made his inaugural foreign visit to Pakistan on August 2-3, 2025. This visit was celebrated as a significant success by officials, think tanks, and media outlets within both countries, as it underscored ambitions to enhance annual bilateral trade.

“These developments, occurring just weeks after a conflict where the United States and Israel targeted Iranian interests, underscore Pakistan's persistent inclination to prioritize its regional and ideological ties with Tehran over its strategic obligations to Washington,” it remarked.