The China Factor in Pakistan's Middle East Diplomacy: A Shift from Religious Solidarity to Strategic Realism

Abstract

This article investigates the evolving shapes of Pakistan’s foreign policy toward the Middle East, focusing on a notable shift from a historically religion-driven framework to one increasingly defined by strategic realism. For decades, Pakistan’s engagement with Middle Eastern states particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran was shaped by shared Islamic identity and religious solidarity. This ideological orientation found expression in Pakistan’s enthusiastic support for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), participation in Islamic summits, and alignment with Gulf monarchies on key regional issues. However, with the rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic actor in the region, Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities are undergoing significant recalibration. The emergence of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), along with Beijing’s expanding influence in the Gulf and Iran, has placed Pakistan in a delicate but strategic position, compelling it to balance traditional alliances with emerging partnerships. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in case study analysis, this study critically examines Pakistan’s diplomatic postures on the Yemen conflict, its nuanced approach toward Iran, and the evolving dynamics with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The research applies the theoretical lens of strategic realism to argue that economic dependency, security concerns, and geopolitical compulsions now increasingly dictate Pakistan’s decisions, often at the expense of religious symbolism. The findings reveal a deeper trend of policy pragmatism driven by China's indirect leverage, which is steadily reshaping Islamabad’s engagement with the Middle East. This study contributes to the broader discourse on foreign policy behavior of secondary powers and enriches understanding of how external actors like China influence regional realignments in the Muslim world.

Keywords: Pakistan, China, Middle East, Strategic Realism, Foreign Policy, Religious Solidarity