Tensions simmer as a Washington report accuses Pakistan of betraying its US alliance through fervent Iran support, questioning its Major Non-NATO Ally credentials. Special military ties are on the line, with calls to bench Islamabad from key diplomatic arenas.
President Trump’s January 18 nod to PM Sharif for the new ‘Board of Peace’ – formed January 15, 2026 – now looks misguided. Pakistan’s invite to February 6 Iran-US talks in Turkey amplifies concerns over its bias.
Enter Defense Minister Khawaja Asif: January 13 statements lauded Iran as a brotherly neighbor essential to security. His January 20 assurance to the Iranian ambassador of perpetual backing ignores allegations of Tehran’s civilian atrocities.
At the UN, Pakistan blocked extensions to Iran protest inquiries, prompting thanks from FM Araghchi on January 24. The June 2025 war crystallized this: amid US bombings of Iranian nukes, Pakistan championed Tehran. Iranian President Pezeshkian’s post-war Pakistan trip in August 2025, celebrated for trade boosts, sealed the shift.
The think tank’s verdict is stark – Pakistan defies ‘true ally’ status. Recommendations include MNNA revocation, military aid curbs, and exclusion from Iran diplomacy. This isn’t mere critique; it’s a roadmap for US realignment, highlighting how Pakistan’s balancing act favors adversaries, risking isolation in a polarized world.