Asif Drani, former Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan, says that Donald Trump’s open support for Pakistan’s mediating role between the U.S. and Iran indicates that Islamabad’s diplomatic significance in the region has increased.
Drani wrote on X that Pakistan is in a sensitive position: on one hand, it must maintain its relations with the U.S., and on the other hand, it needs to keep its ties with Iran stable.
He added that ongoing tensions in the Middle East, regional power rivalries, and the consequences of the recent conflicts between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. have made maintaining this balance difficult.
He warned that continued instability in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East could strengthen proxy groups and turn Afghanistan once again into a field of regional competition.
Drani also said that India might exploit the existing insecurity and, by supporting anti-Pakistan groups, target Pakistan’s security vulnerabilities.
He emphasized that Pakistan must focus on reducing tensions, pursuing constructive diplomacy, promoting economic cooperation, and preventing the resurgence of proxy wars.
Writer:Salima Hakimi
