48 an institution-based non-proliferation regime, particularly through the IAEA and the JCPOA. Pakistan has also consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions to nuclear disputes. At the diplomatic level, Islamabad condemned both the Israeli and American strikes while affirming Iran’s right to self-defense. India’s aspiration to maintain strategic autonomy is increasingly challenged by a shifting and volatile balance of power At the same time, Pakistan treads carefully to avoid alienating Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – two of its principal financial supporters – as well as the United States, with which it seeks to improve relations. Pakistan explicitly denied Iranian claims that it intends to retaliate with nuclear weapons in response to an Israeli attack, reiterating that its nuclear doctrine is strictly focused on deterring India. Despite its diplomatic support for Iran, Islamabad remains intent on preserving strategic autonomy, strengthening economic ties and avoiding entanglement in a broader regional conflict. It may even seek to position itself as a potential mediator between South Asia and the Middle East. Pakistan adopted a clear policy stance by condemning the Israeli and American attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and expressing support for Tehran’s right to self-defense under international law. From Islamabad’s perspective, such attacks undermine established nuclear non-proliferation norms and could set a dangerous precedent with implications for its own security. In this context, Pakistan underscores its adherence to the 1988 Nuclear Non-Aggression Pact with India and reiterates that, as noted, its nuclear weapons are intended solely to deter India, its “only existential threat.” Accordingly, Pakistan seeks to distance itself from any notion of a nuclear confrontation with Israel while simultaneously viewing the strengthening of the India-Israel axis as an indirect but significant threat that must be taken seriously. Pakistan also finds itself in a sensitive position due to China’s deep and growing involvement in its domestic sphere. In recent years, China’s presence in Pakistan, both militarily and through large-scale infrastructure projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has made it a potential intermediary between Beijing and Tehran. While it remains unclear whether Pakistan would directly contribute to Iran’s military capabilities, policymakers in Jerusalem and Washington should not discount the possibility that Beijing could view Photo: Shutterstock
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDU2MA==