Dr. Sujit Kumar Datta
The recent Middle East crisis has highlighted the region’s security instability, but also the opportunity for middle powers to play a role. In this respect, Pakistan is an interesting case, as it sits in between the new Cold War between China and the US, and can play the game. Crises are not only a time bomb for the region, but also an opportunity to boost Pakistan’s position and prove its diplomatic, domestic, and geopolitical agility.
Pakistani foreign policy has always been a juggle. It is, of course, China’s “all-weather” ally, with strong economic, military, and infrastructural ties, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is a new – but also renewed – friend of the US, particularly in the areas of security and terrorism. This is Pakistan’s greatest wartime weapon. The Middle East conflagration the US and Iran have given Pakistan an opportunity for “mediation diplomacy”. Pakistan’s geopolitical and geo-strategic position vis-à-vis Iran and Saudi Arabia makes the situation interesting. It has an open and disputed border with Iran and a military alliance with Saudi Arabia. It is a sensitive time for diplomacy and restraint.
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