WITH no immediate sign of diplomatic delegations from Pakistan and India meeting with or without the intervention of the United States, Islamabad must navigate the complex terrain of global geopolitics with clarity and caution.

The stakes are surely higher than ever.

In assessing this engagement, Pakistan must not overlook the deeply entrenched nexus comprising the US, India and Israel.

Often referred to as `brothers from one mother`, India and Israel have enjoyed unwavering support from Washington.

A recent and glaring example is the US decision to veto yet another United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire. This move, which openly disregarded long-standing norms of peace and diplomacy, signals that if Washington can cast aside its principles for Israel, it can easily do the same for India if it suits its interests.

Adding to this concern is the strategic tolerance the US has shown towards India`s defiance of its core interests.

India has persistently engaged in efforts to undermine US economic dominance by supporting dollar-alternative initiatives.

It has also bought sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran, and sourced military hardware from countries not aligned with American strategic interests. Despite these actions, Washington has looked the other way, indicating a preferential double standard that Islamabad must factor into its diplomatic approach.

During the recent conflict, Indian leaders did not reject American efforts to mediate a ceasefire, but they have frequently ridiculed Trump`s attempt to take creditforthe de-escalation.Shashi Tharoor, an influential Indian parliamentarian who led the Indian diplomatic delegation recently, even took subtle jabs at Trump`s credibility, yet the USadministration responded with silence.

And, mind you, Trump is not known for his tolerance.

Given these dynamics, Pakistan`s diplomatic corps must factor in the strategic imbalance it is facing today. India`s deeply embedded relations with the US, its economic clout, and its utility in the American Indo-Pacific policy framework combine to elevate its position in the eyes of Washington. Engaging the US as if it was a neutral mediator would be a grave miscalculation.

It is also important to recall Trump`s unpredictable and often impulsive diplomatic conduct, such as his abrupt and dismissive handling of meetings with the presidents of Ukraine and South Africa. Such unpredictability cannot be discounted.

In diplomacy, history serves as a nation`s collective memory. As Pakistan prepares to engage the US in this delicate moment, it must carry not only the weight of current circumstances, but also the heavy burden of past betrayals, double standards, and strategic realities.

In international relations, anticipating the worst ensures a country is never caught off-guard when goodwill turns cold and sour.

Shoaib Ahmed Gambat