Washington, February 5 – A scathing new report has cast serious doubts on Pakistan’s reliability as a key US partner, spotlighting its unwavering support for Iran amid escalating tensions. As a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), Pakistan enjoys privileged access to American military aid and equipment, yet its repeated backing of Tehran is eroding that trust.
The analysis from the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute argues that Pakistan’s diplomatic shielding of Iran renders it unfit for neutral roles in global forums. It recommends barring Islamabad from the US-led ‘Board of Peace,’ launched on January 15, 2026, where President Donald Trump personally invited Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join just days later.
Despite this overture, Pakistan’s track record speaks volumes. Invited to mediate upcoming Turkey talks between Iran and the US on February 6, the nation has proven itself unreliable. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has openly reaffirmed solidarity with Tehran, even as reports swirl of Iranian forces cracking down brutally on civilian protests.
On January 13, 2026, Asif declared Iran a ‘beloved neighbor and brother,’ stressing its security as vital to Pakistan. A week later, in a meeting with Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad, he vowed steadfast support ‘in every circumstance.’ This stance extended to the UN Human Rights Council, where Pakistan voted against extending probes into Iran’s violent protest suppressions, earning praise from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on January 24.
Flashback to the 12-day war in June 2025 between Iran and the Israel-US alliance, where US forces struck key Iranian nuclear sites. Pakistan sided unequivocally with Tehran, a position that only hardened post-conflict. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian chose Pakistan for his first official trip after the war on August 2-3, 2025, hailed by both sides as a triumph that boosted bilateral trade ambitions.
The report pulls no punches: Pakistan’s MNNA status demands urgent review, potentially revocation. ‘Islamabad cannot be trusted as a true US ally,’ it concludes, urging Washington to rethink military perks and exclude Pakistan from Iran-related diplomacy. As geopolitical lines harden, this rift could reshape alliances in the volatile Middle East.