Tensions Rise as Pakistan Navigates Iran War Fallout
Pakistan's minority Shiite population reacts with anger over the killing of Iranian clerics, posing a challenge for the country's leadership as they try to balance relations.
Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position as it navigates the fallout from the ongoing conflict between Iran and other global powers. With deep spiritual and cultural ties to Iran, Pakistan's Shiite minority has reacted with outrage over the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed top Iranian clerics, complicating the country's role as a potential mediator in the crisis.
The stakes are high for Pakistan, which shares a long and sometimes turbulent border with Iran. Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government have sought to maintain a delicate balancing act, urging restraint and calling for diplomatic solutions, while also recognizing the anger felt by their own Shiite citizens.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}In the wake of the attacks, Shiite mosques and community centers across Pakistan have been the site of large, emotional protests, with demonstrators condemning the killings and expressing solidarity with their coreligionists in Iran. The government has responded with a mix of caution and concern, aware that the issue has the potential to inflame sectarian tensions within Pakistan itself.
Source: The New York Times
