After more than three weeks of sustained Israeli-U.S. military attacks against Iran, the situation in West Asia has entered its most dangerous phase in decades, with no clear end in sight to the ongoing conflict. The conflict has virtually pushed the region to the edge of all-out war, with fears looming large that states from outside West Asia might be drawn into the hostilities.

In the wake of Israel-U.S. attacks on Iran, Tehran has increased its retaliatory attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council states, particularly Saudi Arabia, creating concerns of a direct military confrontation between the two countries.

On March 18, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud delivered a stark public warning to Iran. Speaking after Iranian attacks on his country and neighboring Gulf states, he declared that tolerance was reaching its limit.

“The patience that is being exhibited is not unlimited,” he said. “Do they [the Iranians] have a day, two, a week? I’m not going to telegraph that.” He urged Tehran to “recalculate” its strategy immediately and reminded listeners that Saudi Arabia and its neighbors possess “very significant capacities and capabilities” if forced to respond.

Amid this situation, Pakistan has emerged as one of the few actors still talking to both Iran and Saudi Arabia while both sides are nearly on the brink of a direct war. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief General Asim Munir have made repeated visits to Riyadh in recent days, while parallel diplomatic efforts and conversations continue to press the Iranian leadership to avoid actions that could draw GCC and Saudi Arabia into a direct conflict.

In this volatile situation, Pakistan finds itself in a very precarious position. Sandwiched between its allies, Saudi Arabia and Iran, with whom it shares deep historical, religious, and cultural ties, Islamabad has little choice but to multiply its diplomatic efforts to avert a direct crisis between the two sides.

Pakistan’s goal is arguably twofold: first, the country has to shield itself from being dragged into a war that is not of its making; and second, it must dissuade Iran from actions that might provoke a military response from Saudi Arabia or other GCC members. Any such retaliation could potentially activate the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and pull Pakistani forces into the fray. This is an outcome that Islamabad is desperate to avoid.

Until recently, the defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia felt largely symbolic; while West Asia had known tensions, nothing was expected on the scale that is unfolding now in the region.

In recent days, as Iranian missile and drone attacks grow against the GCC and Saudi Arabia, the pact is seemingly inching closer to the idea of an operational phase. No one can yet say what form that would take, but the trajectory of events is becoming very concerning from Pakistan’s perspective. For instance, each new Iranian strike on Gulf soil is making the prospect of Saudi entry into the conflict more tangible by the day.

Pakistan’s position regarding safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s security has been very clear. The prime minister’s special assistant, Mosharraf Zaidi, recently left no ambiguity regarding the country’s position on the issue. “One thing to be completely clear about right at the top is that the question isn’t whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia’s aid. I think both countries, even before the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, have always operated on the principle of being there for the other before they need one another. There’s no question that we might, we will, no matter what and no matter when,” he said.

Amid this situation, the domestic stakes for Pakistan could hardly be higher. It is important to note that Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest Shia populations. When news broke of the Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed, the country witnessed some of the most intense reactions anywhere. Protests turned violent in several cities; clashes with security forces left scores dead, and fears of sectarian tensions flared.

It is perhaps precisely this concern that led Munir to meet with Shia clergy from across the country on March 20. According to the military’s media wing, he briefed participants on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at regional de-escalation and emphasized that religious sentiments must not be exploited to incite violence. “Violence in Pakistan, on the basis of incidents occurring in another country, will not be tolerated,” he said. The interaction was arguably meant to send a message that Islamabad is determined that a crisis entirely beyond its control and borders will not be allowed to become a source of chaos at home.

Even at this stage, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would like Tehran to reevaluate its war strategy by engaging in dialogue, rather than direct attacks on GCC states to the extent that it becomes unbearable. Defense analyst Ayesha Siddiqa captured the thinking in Riyadh and Islamabad in a post on X, saying that there is a clear “realization… that a battle with Tehran will be costly economically, socially, and politically.” She added pointedly that “Pakistan is being used to convey messages and to calm down Tehran so that the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia doesn’t escalate.”

These concerns and efforts explain why Pakistan is engaging in hectic diplomacy. The aim is to prevent any direct war between Iran and the Gulf states – above all, Saudi Arabia.

However, the deeper challenge for Pakistan lies beyond bilateral efforts. Pakistani officials and Gulf states must also find ways to persuade Washington and, by extension, Israel, that this military campaign should end sooner rather than later. As long as U.S. and Israeli attacks and assassinations continue in Iran, keeping tempers cool in both Riyadh and Tehran will grow harder by the hour.

Islamabad is clearly walking a tightrope by shuttling messages and praying that cool heads prevail before the region tips into irreversible chaos. For Pakistan, the stakes are monumental as regional stability, historic ties, domestic peace and economic survival all hang in the balance.