Pakistan at its absolute best

For those who are not in the know, there is a new sheriff in town. His name is Pakistan and the town is called West Asia. Well, throw in the Middle East as well for argument's sake. Among all the frenzy of the US-Iran Peace Deal, no country has come out taller and stronger than Pakistan. It has been a hand simply played brilliantly. The outcome has projected Pakistan's image on the global stage in flying colors.

After the latest Iranian misadventure turned into a catastrophe, the USA went hunting for an escape door. Only one country with its unique set of credentials caught the American eye. USA understood that no other nation on the planet had the capacity, leverage and the capability, both diplomatic and military, than the only nuclear-armed Islamic Republic.

To its decades-long deep-rooted relations with almost all the GCC monarchies, Pakistan boastfully added to its resume an equally solid rapport with the Iranians. Its enviable geography did not hurt either. And let’s not forget the dominant giant in all of this - China. Pakistan's all-weather, multi-dimensional bond with China was pivotal in smoothing any Iranian concerns. China quietly endorsed Pakistan's efforts and assured Iran that it had all the bases covered. Iran also understood that it had no better partner to sort out its varying challenges on multiple fronts than its eastern neighbor.

Rest assured, without China's tacit approval, Pakistan would not have budged an inch. The reason is plain and simple. With the apparent decline in US hegemony, nowhere more evident than in this region at the hands of Iranian masterclass retaliation, all the roads now lead to Beijing. Pakistan is also fully cognizant of the fact that the new Global Order, especially shaping in the South, is China's domain now. China will lead the race and is likely to have the final say in all that happens in this region and even beyond. Iran took it as a win-win scenario. With China, Iran's largest trade partner, also playing a behind-the-scenes role, Iran put almost all its eggs in the Pakistani basket.

This new alliance of sorts truly left Americans with the fewest of options. It also elevated America's dependence on Pakistan to unprecedented levels.

And Pakistan did not disappoint.

Not only does it provide a safe exit route to the stuck Americans, but it also delivers a much-needed and timely face-saving, in the fancy packaging of a peace deal. Talk about the vulnerabilities of the world's sole superpower. Poetic justice, at its very best.

But prior to all mediation, Pakistan had already delivered a masterstroke. The Pak-Saudi Defence Pact. Arab States found it the hard way as to how it feels being ditched by the USA, at the time you need its support the most. Left on their own to fetch for their safety and protection, amidst the Iranian retaliatory strikes on US military bases in the Gulf, the Arab monarchies have found in Pakistan a Defence Support Mechanism they can trust and call their own. Saudi Arabia is the first to materialize this arrangement, but surely not the last. As for Pakistan, it welcomed with open arms and bank accounts. It also put Israel on notice. A notice long time coming.

So, let’s just encapsulate all that Pakistan achieved by bringing Iran and the USA on one table. Pakistan successfully established its footprint on the global map as a force to be reckoned with, both militarily and politically. It also exhibited its skills to masterfully handle the sensitivities and interests of almost a dozen players, as diverse and different as Iran and Saudi Arabia, not to mention America and China. When you can convince Saudis to become financial guarantors of Iranian interests, you have achieved the pinnacle of diplomatic success. On top of that, Pakistan then showed its military weight whenever there was a semblance of Israeli sabotage. That really put the Zionist regime and all its shenanigans in a tight bind, ensuring smooth sailing for the signing of the Peace Deal. And in the wake of this MOU, the stalled Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project seems to be an achievable dream now. One can only imagine the promise of trade between the two neighbors. A stable Iran is in the larger interest of all the stakeholders in the region, especially Pakistan.

On an ending note, it is pertinent to mention that no alliance or for that matter no animosity among nations is permanent. Pakistan will do itself a world of good if it were to keep the momentum going, strive to further solidify its rapport with all the relevant stakeholders and last but not the least, keep a strict vigil over the mischief of its adversaries.

(The writer is a freelance journalist, poet & social activist. hasanwazir1@gmail.com)