Why Pakistan must choose active neutrality in the Iran-US war

A war is entering Pakistani homes right now. Not through headlines, but through the electricity bill, the bus fare, the price of vegetables at the local market. Wars in the Middle East rarely stay confined to the countries that start them — their consequences travel through oil pipelines, shipping lanes, financial markets, refugee routes, sectarian networks and military alliances. For Pakistan, the escalating war between Iran and the United States isn’t a spectacle to watch from a safe distance. It’s a national emergency unfolding just beyond the western border, and across the waters the country’s economy depends on. As of July 24, 2026, the conflict has entered an increasingly dangerous phase. American missiles have struck targets across Iran, including military […]