Iran’s ‘Blank Check’: Can It Fix Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict?

Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan said Iran’s push to elevate ties with Pakistan to a “strategic” level will be shaped less by geopolitics and more by Islamabad’s internal weaknesses. in this video, he said Pakistan has historically balanced relations with Iran and Arab states, but domestic instability, militancy and longstanding crises in Balochistan and along the Afghan border have eroded its ability to manage neighbours effectively. Khan argued that Pakistan cannot fully support Iran or stabilise ties with Afghanistan until it resolves its own governance and security failures, which have allowed groups such as the TTP and BLA to operate freely.

Khan played down Iran’s ability to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying the Taliban act only in their own interests and cannot be pressured by Tehran or Islamabad. He said Iran could still play a constructive role with both Afghanistan and India, but regional cooperation remains unlikely while domestic turmoil persists in Pakistan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintains a hard-line posture. He added that Pakistan is in no position to influence the tense U.S.–Iran relationship following the 2025 conflict, warning that Washington’s unpredictability under Donald Trump leaves little space for Pakistani diplomacy.

On security, Khan said stronger intelligence sharing between Iran and Pakistan is essential to stabilise their shared border, but warned that interference by India and the United States in Balochistan complicates cooperation. He said mutual distrust deepens when Pakistan fails to address internal militancy, pushing Iran to seek its own arrangements, including with India. He argued that long-term stability requires regional partnerships involving Pakistan, Iran, India, China and Turkey, but said such cooperation will remain out of reach unless Pakistan resolves its internal divisions and India undergoes political change.