Duplicity Diplomacy: How Pakistan betrays allies and fuels chaos

Pakistan’s duplicity has long been the hallmark of its foreign policy, a pattern of strategic contradictions designed to extract maximum benefit from all sides. The recent U.S. airstrikes against Iran, allegedly launched from Pakistani soil, have once again spotlighted Pakistan’s double-faced diplomatic strategy. Within a mere 24 hours of nominating former U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan swiftly condemned those very same U.S. airstrikes to curry favor with the Islamic world.

Historically, Pakistan’s relationship with the United States has been transactional, marked by short-term alliances driven by mutual convenience rather than genuine alignment of interests or values. During the Cold War, Pakistan positioned itself as a frontline state against Soviet influence, receiving substantial military and economic assistance. Yet even then, it maintained clandestine activities that undermined its professed allies.

Post-9/11, Pakistan demonstrated exceptional duplicity. While publicly joining the U.S. "War on Terror" and receiving billions in aid, its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) covertly sheltered Taliban leaders and even Osama bin Laden himself. Bin Laden’s 2011 assassination in Abbottabad, near a major Pakistani military facility, revealed to the world the extent of Pakistan’s duplicity. Despite warnings from experienced diplomats like Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. repeatedly chose short-term tactical cooperation over confronting the uncomfortable reality of Pakistani betrayal.

The duplicity extends beyond the U.S. relationship. Pakistan's ISI has been implicated in nurturing radical clerics and supporting Taliban factions against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, all while receiving generous American aid. This stark contradiction, of cooperating selectively with Western allies while simultaneously fueling regional instability, is Pakistan’s geopolitical modus operandi.

Further complicating the situation is Pakistan’s strategic relationship with China. Islamabad frequently utilizes Chinese-supplied military hardware, even potentially aiding U.S.-Israel operations against Iran. This paradox underscores Pakistan’s readiness to engage with conflicting partners, creating ambiguity that it exploits for maximum geopolitical leverage.

Yet, perhaps most strikingly, Pakistan’s maneuvering within the Muslim world highlights its cynical diplomacy. By condemning U.S. actions against Iran, Pakistan projects solidarity with Islamic nations, cultivating an image of a defender of Muslim interests. However, this posture masks the uncomfortable truth: Pakistan willingly facilitates Western military actions against fellow Muslim nations when financially or politically advantageous.

Domestically, Pakistan exploits religious sentiments to manipulate the masses. The Sunni-Shia divide, a historic rift in the Muslim world, is leveraged internally for political gain. Sectarian violence is endemic, with Sunni extremist groups targeting Shia minorities, often supported covertly by foreign interests. While Pakistan publicly condemns sectarian violence, it tolerates, and at times, indirectly supports—these extremist elements, fueling internal divisions that distract from broader governmental failures.

Pakistan’s dual role during regional conflicts further illustrates its strategy. In Afghanistan, Pakistan plays the janitor, cleaning up strategic messes for superpowers by harboring terrorists and extremist groups. Its madrassas produce fodder for extremist violence while the Pakistani military benefits financially from Western anxiety about regional stability.

The international community, especially the United States, must reassess its willingness to trust Pakistan. Islamabad's persistent duplicity, accepting Western aid while clandestinely supporting anti-Western extremism, cannot be ignored indefinitely without significant geopolitical consequences. Innumerable examples of such duplicity serve as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in turning a blind eye to Islamabad’s double games.

Adding to the irony, Pakistan currently holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month, a position intended for countries committed to international peace and security. This irony underscores the contradictions inherent in the international system itself, allowing a nation notorious for its destabilizing actions and double-dealing diplomacy to preside over global peace initiatives.

Pakistan’s duplicity is not an aberration but a calculated strategy designed to maximize geopolitical leverage. The international community must adopt a clear-eyed understanding of this reality, shaping policies that expose, confront, and ultimately neutralize Pakistan’s double-edged diplomacy.