From Makkah to Tehran: Can Pakistan Bridge the Gulf’s Deepening Security Divide?
This analysis by Tughral Yamin, Senior IPS Associate, examines Pakistan’s diplomatic role amid the deepening security divide between Iran and the Gulf states. The insight explores Field Marshal Asim Munir’s Tehran visit, the emerging Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and the possibility of incorporating Iran into a broader regional security framework. It highlights the challenges posed by the Saudi-Iranian rivalry, the Houthi issue, and US strategic interests, while assessing Pakistan’s unique position between Riyadh, Tehran, Ankara, and Washington. Importantly, the commentary argues that Islamabad could help transform the emerging security architecture from a source of regional competition into a mechanism for coexistence, de-escalation, and greater regional responsibility for Gulf security.
