Pakistan walking on tightrope as US-Iran tensions soar, admits Khawaja Asif

Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would seek to preserve its diplomatic room for manoeuvre by maintaining communication with both Washington and Tehran, exercising restraint and avoiding steps that could further complicate its ties with either side.

In Short

• Pakistan tries mediating between US and Iran without success
• Islamabad faces diplomatic challenge amid US-Iran tensions
• It aims to keep diplomatic space, exercise restraint, minister says

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has admitted that Islamabad is facing a delicate diplomatic challenge amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, describing Pakistan’s position as a "tightrope walk" given its close relations with both Iran and the Gulf countries involved in the conflict.

Pakistan has sought to play a mediating role between the US and Iran in efforts to end the war in West Asia, but discussions so far have failed to produce a permanent settlement.

Asif said Pakistan has "brotherly relations" with all sides and would have to carefully assess how far it could go in any further mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad would also have to consider whether it could avoid taking certain steps that might further complicate its diplomatic position.

"For Pakistan, this becomes quite a test, how far we can go in this conflict, where we can exercise restraint, and whether we can even afford to stay away," the minister said in an interview with Geo News, adding, "All these considerations, in my view, make it a tightrope walk for Pakistan".

He was speaking about Pakistan’s possible further role in efforts to engage both sides as tensions continue to simmer across the region.

Asif said Islamabad had been trying to maintain communication with both the US and Iran, stressing that its relationships with all countries involved were important.

"The way we have tried to contact both sides, we have tried to call them," he said.

He underlined that Pakistan's ties with the Gulf states involved in the conflict were as important to Islamabad as its relationship with Iran.

"We have brotherly relations with all the Gulf countries involved in this conflict, as well as with Iran on the other side. These relations are very dear to us," Asif said.

The minister indicated that Islamabad would seek to preserve as much diplomatic space as possible and avoid, where feasible, actions that could further narrow its room for manoeuvre.

"For Pakistan, this becomes a kind of special situation. We have to see how far we can go and whether we can avoid (taking certain steps) if possible," he said.

Asif also said Pakistan should continue to hope for a diplomatic way out of the crisis.

"And we should keep hoping that some way forward will emerge," he added.

Asked about the possibility of further action or Pakistan's response to developments involving its partners, Asif said Islamabad did not necessarily have to respond to every action in an identical manner.

- Ends