Pakistan has indicated its willingness to mediate between the United States and Iran in an effort to ease the ongoing West Asia conflict, proposing a back-channel approach to convey messages between the two sides. Islamabad’s initiative, however, is facing significant challenges, with analysts pointing to potential trust deficits with both Tehran and Riyadh.

A major hurdle for Pakistan is balancing its relationships with Iran and Saudi Arabia. While Islamabad maintains close strategic and military ties with Riyadh—including a bilateral security understanding that treats aggression against one as a concern for both—Iran perceives the US and Saudi Arabia as adversaries. Tehran reportedly suspects Pakistan of leveraging its goodwill in ways that indirectly benefit Washington, a perception reinforced by recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran allowed limited passage for vessels from select friendly nations, including Pakistan, enabling about ten Pakistani ships to transit the Strait. While Islamabad viewed this as routine diplomatic facilitation, Tehran interpreted it as an attempt to maintain favour with the US while extracting concessions, complicating Pakistan’s role as a neutral mediator.

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Pakistan’s position with Saudi Arabia has also generated unease. Riyadh expected Islamabad to offer tangible support during a period of heightened tensions and attacks linked to Iran. Instead, Pakistan restricted its role to diplomatic engagement, prompting Saudi officials to explore alternative defence partnerships, including cooperation with Ukraine, which brings operational expertise against Iranian-made drones and battlefield experience.

Complicating matters further, Pakistan is constrained militarily. Its forces remain engaged in operations against domestic insurgent groups such as the Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), limiting its ability to extend military support to Saudi Arabia. This has contributed to growing disillusionment among Riyadh’s leadership, who have historically relied on Pakistan as a security partner and provided economic support in return.

Indian diplomats and regional analysts suggest that these developments undermine Pakistan’s capacity to broker a meaningful peace agreement. Trust is central to negotiations, and any perception of partiality or conflicting interests from Islamabad could complicate efforts. Observers note that Pakistan’s approach appears motivated less by genuine mediation and more by a desire to project itself as a global peacemaker while maximizing strategic leverage with both Iran and the United States.

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