Web Desk: The policy debate in Washington over whether Pakistan is a reliable US strategic partner has been reignited after a recent report by the Gatestone Institute raised questions about Islamabad’s behavior amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Officials from Pakistan, however, reject this interpretation, arguing that Pakistan has been a steadfast US ally for decades and is still balancing complex regional pressures.
The Gatestone Institute, a US-based think tank, claimed that Pakistan has “repeatedly proven unreliable” as a strategic partner, citing Islamabad’s close ties with Iran and its refusal to recognise Israel. The report also said that Pakistan’s stance during the Gaza crisis and the Iran-Israel-US confrontation in June 2025 had undermined US confidence, especially given Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally.
The report also pointed to Pakistan’s public statements during the 12-day war in June 2025, when Iran directly clashed with Israel and the United States. According to Gatestone, Pakistan showed strong coordination with Tehran and issued statements in support of Iran while condemning the actions of Israel and the United States, raising questions about Pakistan’s strategic priorities in Washington.
The report’s findings as highly one-sided and historically incomplete. Islamabad has been a strategic partner of the United States since the early years of the Cold War, with cooperation deepening under former President Ayub Khan and expanding further during Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in Afghanistan.
Officials say that role came at a heavy price. Pakistan is still bearing the consequences of that alliance, including terrorism, extremism and internal instability, which emerged after decades of regional conflicts. This history is not a reflection of distrust but of determination and commitment.
Regarding the Iran conflict, Islamabad did not participate in the war and that its policy has been neutral. Despite pressure from religious and political circles to take an open stance in favour of Iran, Pakistan avoided any military intervention and focused on diplomatic relations.
On the issue of Gaza, Pakistan reiterated its position in favour of Palestinian civilians, but avoided any direct confrontation with the United States or Israel and presented its position in accordance with the principles of international law and humanitarianism.
Foreign policy experts in Washington say the debate reflects growing tensions in assessing partners in the global political environment. Pakistan maintains ties with the United States, China, Iran and the Gulf states at the same time, a common balance for many regional powers.
Islamabad argues that its longstanding military, intelligence and counterterrorism cooperation with Washington should not be obscured by diplomatic positions on Middle East conflicts.
“The strategic partnership with the United States is not temporary. It is built on decades of shared security interests, sacrifices and cooperation and continues despite regional complexities,” a senior Pakistani official said on condition of anonymity.
The Gatestone Institute has faced repeated criticism, including for anti-Muslim bias and questionable reporting. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) accused the institute’s leadership of spreading anti-Muslim narratives, while some partners say that criticism of extremist views should not be equated with bigotry.
Independent fact-checkers flagged several misleading claims, including a false claim that 500 churches in London had closed and 423 mosques had opened, and exaggerated claims of “no-go zones” controlled by Muslim communities in European cities. Media watchdogs have called Gatestone unreliable and highly biased, citing selective sourcing, lack of funding transparency and the promotion of far-right narratives sometimes using weak evidence or conspiracy theories.
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