{"id":45864,"date":"2025-06-21T18:35:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T13:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=45864"},"modified":"2025-06-24T15:44:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T10:14:31","slug":"pakistan-balancing-act-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-06-2025\/pakistan-balancing-act-on-iran","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Pakistan\u2019s Balancing Act on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pakistan has extended<strong> strong rhetorical support to Iran amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Iran and Pakistan Relations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Foundational Ties:<\/strong> Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan after its independence in 1947.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Iran provided <strong>military and diplomatic support to Pakistan<\/strong> during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite shared Islamic identity, ties have been marked by deep mistrust, particularly since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which redefined Iran&#8217;s geopolitical stance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6b67c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/06\/iran.png\" alt=\"iran\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-45865\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6b67c; width:414px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Border Tensions and the Baloch Question: <\/strong>The 900-km Iran-Pakistan border runs through the Baloch heartland, with the Pak province of Balochistan on one side and the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan on the other.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each side accuses the other of <strong>providing safe haven to separatist groups.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There have been at least 15 border clashes in the past decade, most recently in January 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Divergence over Afghanistan: <\/strong>Iran (Shia-Majority) supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in the 1990s, out of concerns stemming from a strongly anti-Shia group (Taliban) ruling a neighbour with which it shares a 921-km-border.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pakistan has historically backed the Taliban, resulting in conflicting regional stakes in Afghanistan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sectarian Dimensions and the Saudi Factor: <\/strong>Pakistan\u2019s close alliance with Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-majority power, has strained ties with Iran.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Saudi-funded Sunni madrasas in Pakistan have fostered sectarian ideologies against Shia minorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iran sees this as part of a broader Sunni axis hostile to its interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The American Angle: Divergent Alignments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Post-1979, Iran has remained hostile to the US, while Pakistan has relied on American support, particularly during the Cold War.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Post-9\/11 era, Pakistan was a key US ally against the Taliban, receiving massive military and economic aid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>US disengagement post-2021<\/strong> (after the Afghanistan exit) has reduced Pakistan\u2019s value America\u2019s strategic calculus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now, Iran\u2013Israel tensions offer Pakistan a <strong>potential diplomatic opening to regain relevance in US eyes:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Publicly rejecting military support<\/strong> for Iran reassures US.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pakistan is also pitching itself as a mediator<\/strong>, with Foreign Minister claiming efforts to amplify Iran\u2019s willingness to negotiate with the US, contingent on a halt in Israeli strikes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How is Iran Strategically Important to India?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Iran share deep civilisational, linguistic, and historical ties. Post-independence, they signed a friendship treaty in 1950.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Key milestones include the 2001 Tehran Declaration and the New Delhi Declaration, which strengthened cooperation in areas like economy, energy, education, and counter-terrorism.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iran is extremely important for India as a strategic partner as it offers connectivity, particularly through the Chabahar Port and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-06-2022\/international-north-south-transport-corridor-instc\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-06-2022\/international-north-south-transport-corridor-instc\"><strong>International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC)<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These provide alternative trade routes, bypassing Pakistan and enhance access to Central Asia and beyond.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Emerging Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pakistan\u2019s actions amid the Iran-Israel conflict reflect a broader strategy to regain regional relevance and re-engage with the US.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pakistan\u2019s balancing act involves:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vocal non-military support to Iran.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leveraging diplomatic tools to remain relevant post-Afghanistan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pakistan also sees rhetorical support for Iran as a way to weaken India-Iran ties, especially given India\u2019s strategic investments in Iran\u2019s Chabahar Port and connectivity projects that bypass Pakistan.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Iran\u2013Pakistan relationship is a <strong>strategic paradox<\/strong> which on the surface are <strong>Islamic allies<\/strong> with<strong> historical ties<\/strong> but in reality are<strong> geopolitical competitors, deeply divided over sectarian, regional, and global alignments<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The US factor, India\u2019s strategic outreach to Iran, and the Israel\u2013Iran crisis add <strong>further layers to this dynamic.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For India, understanding this relationship is key to <strong>protecting its interests in Iran <\/strong>and <strong>maintaining regional balance <\/strong>in the face of Pakistan\u2019s recalibrated foreign policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/understanding-pakistans-balancing-act-on-iran-10079081\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read this in Hindi:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs-hindi\/21-06-2025\/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs-hindi\/21-06-2025\/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE\">\u0908\u0930\u093e\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u092e\u093e\u092e\u0932\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u093e\u0915\u093f\u0938\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u0902\u0924\u0941\u0932\u0928 \u0915\u094b \u0938\u092e\u091d\u0928\u093e<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Pakistan has extended strong rhetorical support to Iran amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>How is Iran strategically important to India?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India and Iran share deep civilisational, linguistic, and historical ties. Post-independence, they signed a friendship treaty in 1950.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Key milestones include the 2001 Tehran Declaration and the New Delhi Declaration, which strengthened cooperation in areas like economy, energy, education, and counter-terrorism.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Iran is extremely important for India as a strategic partner as it offers connectivity, particularly through the Chabahar Port and the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC).\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">These provide alternative trade routes, bypassing Pakistan and enhance access to Central Asia and beyond.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-06-2025\/pakistan-balancing-act-on-iran\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45864"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46078,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45864\/revisions\/46078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}