Islamabad, April 2 (NationPress) As Pakistan positions itself as a potential intermediary between the United States and Iran amid the ongoing West Asian turmoil, recent analyses indicate that Islamabad has persistently aimed to transform crises into opportunities for significance, portraying itself as advantageous to all stakeholders while sidestepping the "costs of complete alignment" with any single entity.

Dimitra Staikou, a Greek legal expert, journalist, and author, recently noted in 'EuropaWire' that Pakistan's ongoing reliance on strategic ambiguity undermines its credibility as a reliable ally.

"This trend is not unprecedented. Pakistan's ties with Gulf monarchies have long been characterized by deep reliance paired with carefully curated ambiguity. In 1998, after its nuclear tests and the subsequent sanctions, Saudi Arabia allegedly supplied Pakistan with approximately 50,000 barrels of oil daily at no cost. In exchange, Islamabad provided security cooperation and support within Gulf defense frameworks. However, when Riyadh sought direct military involvement in the Yemen conflict in 2015, Pakistan opted for neutrality, preserving its strategic utility without compromising flexibility," Staikou elaborated.

The expert asserts that Pakistan’s relationship with Gulf monarchies in 2025–2026 remains crucial yet inherently imbalanced.

"Financial aid, debt rollovers, and remittances from nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are pivotal to sustaining Pakistan’s fragile economy. Investment projects in energy, logistics, and infrastructure are on the rise, alongside ongoing security collaboration. Nevertheless, the imbalance is evident: Islamabad relies significantly more on its Gulf partners than they do on Pakistan," Staikou stated.

The report underscored that Pakistan's diminishing ability to maneuver is becoming apparent as economic dependency coincides with a turbulent domestic atmosphere, where anti-American and Islamist sentiments are increasingly challenging to manage.

Recent violent demonstrations in Karachi, along with broader unrest linked to regional tensions, suggest that Pakistan's long-standing approach — "symbolic outrage paired with strategic flexibility" — is becoming impractical.

“In these circumstances, Pakistan's portrayal as a mediator seems less a sign of diplomatic maturity and more a means of managing structural contradictions. A noticeable alignment towards Riyadh and Washington risks rekindling tensions with Iran, especially after the January 2024 missile exchange. Conversely, passivity may weaken relationships with crucial Gulf financial supporters. The narrative of Islamabad serving as a neutral ground for dialogue does not imply the resolution of these tensions — it reflects an ongoing struggle to navigate them,” it highlighted.

Stressing that Pakistan's external posture is deeply intertwined with its internal issues, the report stated, “economic hardship, institutional decay, democratic regression, and the rising visibility of extremist elements” collectively limit Islamabad’s capacity to project global coherence.

"For Western decision-makers, the challenge extends beyond merely engaging Pakistan as a mediator; it involves assessing its reliability as a state actor in a swiftly evolving geopolitical environment. Until Islamabad addresses its internal weaknesses, its claims of neutral mediation will likely be met with skepticism rather than assurance," it concluded.