Guardian of the Gulf: Pakistan’s regional role

IN May 2025, Pakistan confronted Indian aggression with a firmness that brought its neighbour sharply to its senses. The episode, brief yet decisive, marked a turning point not only on the battlefield but also in the wider sphere of international affairs. While Indian forces reeled from a military reverse they had not anticipated, the United States President repeatedly spoke on global platforms of India’s defeat, lending official weight to a reality New Delhi wished to obscure. Pakistan, having prevailed militarily, moved with equal confidence on the diplomatic front. Across the Gulf and in European capitals, Islamabad’s voice carried growing authority, while India struggled to present itself as a responsible actor. Within India, Narendra Modi’s government faced criticism following the conflict, despite attempts to reshape the narrative through public messaging. At the same time, fresh tensions emerged in the Gulf, where Pakistan again demonstrated its diplomatic importance. Through engagement with Gulf States and the United States, Islamabad helped open channels of dialogue and contributed to preventing wider conflict. The contrast with India became increasingly evident. While Pakistan worked to ease tensions and promote stability, New Delhi appeared driven by rivalry and resentment. The American President later acknowledged Pakistan’s role in preventing war, an admission that further heightened India’s frustration. Throughout these turbulent weeks, India’s alignments became increasingly visible. Its willingness to share information concerning Iranian ship movements and its tacit support for actions against Iran placed it firmly on one side of a dangerous regional divide. Iran, however, emerged resilient against its adversaries, frustrating much of the disruption Israel had sought to engineer through its increasingly assertive regional conduct. In this atmosphere, India’s attempts to expand its role in Gulf affairs found little welcome. Pakistani diplomacy, grounde