Mir Sher Baz Khetran
In an era of increasing geopolitical competition, where the United States and China are locked in an intensifying rivalry, Pakistan finds itself in a unique and historically significant position.
Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently highlighted this dynamic at the Munich Security Conference, emphasizing Pakistan’s potential role as a bridge-builder between these two global powers.
Drawing on the country’s diplomatic legacy, he argued that Pakistan should not be forced to choose sides but should instead work towards reducing tensions and fostering dialogue between the U.S. and China.
Historically, Pakistan played a crucial role in facilitating the rapprochement between the United States and China in the early 1970’s.
At the height of the Cold War, when tensions between the communist bloc and the Western alliance were at their peak, Pakistan’s close ties with both Washington and Beijing positioned it as an intermediary.
This culminated in the historic visit of Henry Kissinger to China in 1971, paving the way for President Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking visit to Beijing in 1972 and the eventual normalization of U.S.-China relations.
This strategic diplomacy not only reshaped global politics but also showcased Pakistan’s ability to mediate between two adversarial superpowers.
As President Trump wants to reduce America’s security commitments to Europe and is eager to “get along well” with China’s Xi Jinping.
The U.S.-China relationship is marked by intense competition across multiple domains—technology, trade, military, and geopolitics. Washington has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, sanctioned Chinese firms, and sought to counter Beijing’s influence in regions like the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
Conversely, China has expanded its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), strengthened its economic partnerships, and increased its global footprint. In this volatile environment, smaller states often find themselves under pressure to align with one power over the other.
Pakistan, however, remains committed to a policy of strategic balancing. While Islamabad maintains strong defense and trade ties with Beijing, largely through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it also values its longstanding relationship with Washington, particularly in the realms of security cooperation and economic assistance.
This delicate balancing act underscores the challenges Pakistan faces in the current global order, where great power competition is reshaping international alliances and economic policies.
Bilawal Bhutto’s assertion that Pakistan should once again act as a bridge between the U.S. and China is both ambitious and pragmatic.
Given the current state of U.S.-China relations, a third-party intermediary could play a crucial role in de-escalating tensions and fostering dialogue.
As President Donald Trump previously signaled his willingness to improve ties with China, and with the prospect of renewed diplomatic engagements under different U.S. administrations, Pakistan could position itself as a facilitator of these interactions.
One potential avenue for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts lies in trade negotiations. Reports suggest that President Trump had planned a visit to Beijing, contingent upon certain trade tariff adjustments.
If such high-level engagements resume, Pakistan could use its economic ties with both nations to create common ground.
Similarly, on security issues, particularly in the context of Afghanistan and counterterrorism, Pakistan has a vested interest in ensuring that both the U.S. and China engage constructively rather than competitively.
However, Pakistan’s ability to play this role is contingent on several factors. Firstly, it must maintain a stable and credible diplomatic posture. Any perception of bias toward one power could undermine its mediatory role.
Secondly, Pakistan needs to strengthen its own economic and strategic position to be taken seriously as an intermediary. A weak or crisis-ridden Pakistan would lack the necessary leverage to engage meaningfully with Washington and Beijing.
Lastly, Islamabad must articulate a clear vision of how it intends to facilitate dialogue—whether through diplomatic channels, trade negotiations, or regional security cooperation.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s diplomatic history suggests that such a role is not beyond reach. The country has previously mediated between Middle Eastern rivals (Saudi-Iran), contributed to international peacekeeping efforts, and engaged in backchannel diplomacy on critical issues.
With a carefully crafted foreign policy, Islamabad can once again position itself as a bridge between the U.S. and China, ensuring that it does not get caught in the crosshairs of great power rivalry but rather contributes to global stability and cooperation.
Bilawal Bhutto’s call for Pakistan to reclaim its role as a mediator between the U.S. and China is both timely and necessary. Pakistan can once again serve as a crucial link between two of the world’s most powerful nations, fostering dialogue over division and cooperation over confrontation.
*The writer is a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad.
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publication.
The Diplomatic Insight is a digital and print magazine focusing on diplomacy, defense, and development publishing since 2009.
