From superpower rivalry to regional renaissance

History will record June 2026 as a turning point, not just for the Middle East, but for Pakistan’s standing in the world. When the United States and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, ending a conflict that had destabilized the region and disrupted global energy markets, it was Pakistan that stood at the centre of it all. And at the heart of this diplomatic masterstroke was Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. President Donald Trump himself credited Pakistan with “really helping” the United States secure the peace deal, praising Field Marshal Munir as “great” and acknowledging his direct line to the White House. US Vice President JD Vance went further, stating: “We would not have been here without his statesmanship and military leadership”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian chose Pakistan as his first foreign destination after the conflict, underscoring how Islamabad has been repositioned in Tehran’s calculations. This is a unique moment in Pakistan’s history. For the first time, we have the world’s major powers, the United States, Russia and China aligned with our diplomatic efforts. China has publicly backed Pakistan’s Iran diplomacy and both nations have agreed to advance the high-quality development of CPEC 2.0. Pakistan is no longer seen as a country caught between rival blocs; it is recognized as an indispensable bridge for peace. But the question now is: what do we do with this opportunity? The most immediate and consequential opportunity lies in the long-stalled Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline. First conceived in 1994, the pipeline was designed to transport approximately 780 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from Iran’s vast reserves to energy-deficient Pakistan. Iran has completed nearly 900 kilometres of pipeline on its territory, yet Pakistan’s side remains unfinished, exposing Islamabad to potential liabilities of up to $18 billion. For years, US sanctions on Iran have been the primary obstacle. With