Pakistan hopes to capitalize on its role as a peacemaker in the Iran war by signing defence deals with Gulf monarchies and attracting investment, while maintaining its neutrality. This could help strengthen its economy and finance its military expansion.

Pakistan is hoping that its role in building a diplomatic off-ramp from the US-Israel war on Iran will enable it to become a key actor in the Middle East after the conflict ends, analysts say. If Islamabad can deliver without being sucked into the maelstrom, it can capitalise on its position as peacemaker by signing defence deals with Gulf monarchies and attracting investment from them to strengthen its weak economy. This will help finance Pakistan’s military expansion for its envisioned new...