Pakistan’s tightrope walk in US-Iran tensions

Pakistan finds itself stuck in the middle as Washington and Tehran inch closer to open conflict. Two officials from Islamabad revealed that backchannel talks between the US and Iran are still alive, despite recent airstrikes and rising threats. One security source pointed out that Iran’s missile strike on Saudi oil sites—allegedly housing American-linked infrastructure—could shut down any chance of dialogue if Riyadh hits back. The fear? Pakistan’s defence deal with Saudi Arabia might drag it into a regional war it desperately wants to avoid.The clock is ticking. Another source called Iran’s current stance “dangerously precarious, ” warning that the next few hours could decide whether talks survive or collapse. Behind the scenes, mediators are pushing Iran to sit down without preconditions, but Tehran isn’t making it easy. A senior Iranian diplomat made it clear: no lasting peace talks until the US and Israel halt strikes, promise not to restart them, and pay for the damage. So far, Iran has dismissed a temporary ceasefire offer pushed through intermediaries. For Pakistan, this is a no-win situation. It’s trying to mediate but risks getting pulled in by its defence pact with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, its own western border with Iran stays tense, and its large Shiite population—second only to Iran’s—adds another layer of risk. Too much pressure from either side could spark unrest at home. With stakes this high, Islamabad’s balancing act just got a lot harder.