Pakistan’s Silent Betrayal? How It Kept Iran from Becoming a Nuclear Power

Countries throughout the Muslim world are strongly opposing Israel’s actions as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies. Pakistan has taken a particularly strong stand among them, denouncing Israeli airstrikes and reaffirming its backing for Iran.

Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country with one of the most powerful armies in the Islamic world and a nuclear weapon, has never actually assisted Iran in obtaining nuclear weapons, despite its frequent claims of brotherhood. In actuality, its backing has frequently been more symbolic than calculated.

This brings up an important question: Why didn’t Pakistan help Tehran develop a nuclear deterrent if it really views Iran as a “brother country”?

A Shared Faith, But Diverging Agendas

Both nations seem to be natural allies on the surface. They have a shared religion, a long border, and cultural ties. However, there is a deep sectarian divide. The religious divide between Iran and Pakistan—Iran is Shia and Pakistan is Sunni—has long shaped their diplomatic interactions.

Despite its constant rhetoric of unity in the Muslim world, Islamabad’s policies have frequently favoured Iran’s regional adversaries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

The A.Q. Khan Episode: A Silent Beginning

There is a murky connection even though Pakistan has never formally endorsed Iran’s nuclear program. Dr. A.Q. Khan, a nuclear scientist from Pakistan, allegedly operated a covert proliferation network in the 1980s and 1990s that sent Iran sensitive centrifuge designs and parts.

Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium was greatly increased by these early transfers. Actually, the centrifuge designs from Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear complex, which were based on European designs, are remarkably similar to those from Iran’s Natanz facility.

Why That Help Didn’t Last Long

The world became aware of A.Q. Khan’s nuclear smuggling network by the early 2000s. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United States exerted tremendous pressure on Pakistan to end these clandestine activities.

Maintaining support for Iran would have resulted in harsh economic penalties, diplomatic isolation, and the termination of Western military assistance. At that point, ideological solidarity was subordinated to Pakistan’s national interest.

Pakistan’s Nuclear Doctrine Is India-Centric

Another major reason for Pakistan’s reluctance is strategic focus. Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine has always been India-specific, designed to counter its eastern neighbor—not to empower another regional power like Iran.

Helping Iran go nuclear could have disrupted the delicate balance of power in the region, undermined Pakistan’s unique identity as the only declared Islamic nuclear state, and brought it into conflict with its own allies.

The Saudi Factor: Money, Oil, and Influence

Pakistan’s geopolitical loyalties are also shaped by its deep economic and military ties with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations. These countries view a nuclear Iran as an existential threat. Openly aiding Tehran could have jeopardized Pakistan’s economic aid, oil deals, and labor remittance channels.

Over the years, Islamabad has carefully walked a diplomatic tightrope—expressing support for Iran on surface, while aligning its deeper policies with Sunni Gulf powers.

Sunni-Shia Divide Adds Complexity

Beyond geopolitics, sectarian divisions also play a role. While both nations are Muslim-majority, their internal dynamics differ greatly. Pakistan’s Sunni majority and Iran’s Shia leadership have often found themselves on opposing ends of regional conflicts, including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

These divides have prevented the emergence of a true military or nuclear alliance, despite surface-level solidarity.

Pakistan’s Unique Selling Point: The Only Islamic Nuclear Power

If Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, it would strip Pakistan of one of its key strategic advantages—being the world’s only declared Muslim nuclear state. That symbolic status gives Pakistan unmatched leverage in global Islamic diplomacy, especially in organizations like the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation).

Helping Iran would have meant sharing the spotlight—and Islamabad wasn’t willing to do that.

Strategic Caution Over Symbolic Support

At the end of the day, Pakistan’s foreign policy has always prioritized self-interest over ideology. While it calls Iran a brother, it has remained cautious, strategic, and selectively supportive, knowing that nuclear proliferation would bring more risks than rewards.

Read More: 40,000 U.S. Troops on High Alert—Is War with Iran Inevitable?

Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on The Ink Post. Get Latest Updates, Latest News on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Explainers.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn and Twitter to Stay updated!