Pakistan is a snake with a forked tongue and the West may just be about to witness this phenomenon! As the Middle East suffers a full-scale conflict between Iran and Israel, a new storm brews – not just from missiles, but from mixed messages.
A senior Iranian commander has claimed that Pakistan will launch a nuclear counterattack on Israel if Iran is nuked.
However, Islamabad quickly denied the assertion. But the world now watches in unease: is Pakistan walking both sides of the street? Is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan pledging Ummah loyalty in secret, while publicly washing its hands? In the great geopolitical tug-of-war between China and the US, is Pakistan hedging its bets – again?
The Shadow Pact: Iran Says Yes, Pakistan Says No
Iranian National Security Council member General Mohsen Rezaei went public with an explosive claim: that Pakistan promised a “tit-for-tat” nuclear retaliation on behalf of Iran against Israel. The timing of the statement was no accident. It came as the conflict between these two nations ramped up with ballistic missiles running wild across the land.
Yet, within hours, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, denied the allegation, stating that no such commitment had been made.
Khwaja Asif insisted that Islamabad remains cautious but supportive of Iran “as a brotherly nation”, especially in the face of Israeli aggression. But here’s the paradox: Pakistan openly calls for Muslim unity, supports Iran in speeches, and urges the Islamic world to isolate Israel diplomatically. So why draw a nuclear red line if there was no prior conversation? Is Tehran making it up or revealing something Islamabad hoped would stay buried?
Pakistan Bends Both Ways: The China-US Tightrope
This is not the first time Pakistan has double-dealed. Historically, it has benefited from being a nuclear-armed Islamic country while nurturing two contradictory alliances:
- With China, its “all-weather ally,” has become increasingly close to Iran in recent years.
- And with the United States, which supplies financial and military aid – despite deep distrust.
In return, Pakistan allowed China to reap benefits in Balochistan and Gwaddar while exploiting CPEC for trade. Thus, the PRC, which invested in Iran via the 25-year strategic cooperation pact, likely encouraged behind-the-scenes unity among its regional partners. Beijing’s interests demand a strong anti-Israel, anti-West bloc. This is especially true as USA-Israel Lobby is expanding its influence in the Middle East. Allegedly, Chinese cargo planes loaded with military aid and equipment did land in Iran during the recent crisis.
While these reports remain unconfirmed, they strengthen the idea that China’s hand may be guiding Pakistan’s “quiet promises.”
Yet, Pakistan cannot afford to anger Washington too openly. It needs IMF support while US military assets continue to be parked in Pakistani territories. Additionally, Pakistan needs the US “good guy” stamp for global legitimacy. Hence, it makes loud public denials even while Iranian leaders drop hints of nuclear cooperation.
This isn’t new. Pakistan publicly supported Iran’s uranium enrichment “for peaceful purposes”, according to statements by PM Shehbaz Sharif. A message that walked a thin line between acknowledging Iran’s ambitions and appeasing the West.
The Ummah Trap: Brotherhood or Betrayal?
At the heart of the matter lies the idea of Muslim unity or Ummah. Pakistan has long leveraged religious solidarity to back its narrative in global forums. Be it Kashmir, Palestine, or now Iran – Islamabad invokes the Ummah to project moral leadership in the Muslim world. But the reality is murkier. While calls for OIC action sound noble, they are rarely followed with substance.
The same Islamic leaders calling for Israeli isolation maintain quiet trade deals or secret backchannels to Tel Aviv through third parties.
If Iran’s nuclear retaliation claim is true, it reveals a dangerous private solidarity masked by public diplomacy. If false, it still exposes how easily Pakistan presents a duplicitous stance – being Ummah Friend only in name while being a Western stooge in intentions. Thus, casting doubt on its credibility as a nuclear state.
Feeding the Snake: The West’s Dangerous Gamble
The US and Europe have long believed they could contain Pakistan with aid, alliances, and pressure. But history warns otherwise. From Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad hideout to China’s CPEC domination, Pakistan has repeatedly shown it plays its own game—and plays it well.
By arming and funding a nation that cozies up to both adversaries and allies, the West risks being the snake’s next victim.
As the Iranian commander’s statement went viral, the message was clear: Don’t trust Pakistan’s silence. It may speak louder than its denials. Whether Pakistan made a nuclear promise to Iran or not, the mere plausibility is chilling. As China’s shadow grows and Islamabad dances to multiple tunes, the West must ask itself: Are we nurturing a viper in our own backyard? Because in geopolitics, as in life, snakes bite hardest when you least expect it.