Pakistan’s westward turn — strategic depth or overstretch
Pakistan is expanding its strategic footprint in West Asia through new defense agreements and institutionalized alliances. The article analyzes whether this represents a strategic shift or an overextension of its geopolitical influence.
Why it matters
It highlights the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East and Pakistan's attempt to balance its South Asian identity with its Islamic geopolitical interests.
The defence cooperation agreement signed by Pakistan and Kuwait on August 27, 2026, is the latest manifestation of Pakistan’s rapidly expanding strategic footprint in West Asia. The agreement assumes greater significance when viewed alongside Pakistan’s membership of the Saudi Arabia-Türkiye-Pakistan defence arrangement and its recent role as an intermediary between Iran and the United States .
Pakistan’s West Asian orientation has deep historical roots. From its inception, it attempted to combine its South Asian geopolitical identity with that of a major Muslim power. During the Cold War, Pakistan, Iran and Türkiye were linked through the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and subsequently through the Regional Cooperation for Development.
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