Can Pakistan afford to be the Muslim world's 'security guard'?

Pakistan is betting that military muscle can buy it a bigger seat at the global table. Islamabad has deepened defence ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey through the Mecca pact, sought a larger role in Gulf security, marketed its fighter jets and drones abroad and cast itself as an emerging security partner across the Muslim world.But the bigger Pakistan’s ambitions become, thebigger the question: How much can its military and economy actually carry?The country is trying to project strategic strength while simultaneously operating under a $7 billon International Monetary Fund programme, managing large external financing needs and trying to keep its foreign exchange reserves above critical levels. Its latest federal budget increased defence spending sharply while cutting the federal development allocation.That tension is becoming harder to ignore.In June, Pakistan unveiled an PKR 18.77 trillion budget for the financial year beginning July 2026.