Why he says: whether or not a deal .. it "makes no difference to me" :::: Has Donald Trump's 'favourite field marshall' lost something ? --- Despite hosting Ceasefire talks; Pakistan is drawn into Iran-US War

Pakistan sends fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid fragile US-Iran ceasefire

A fragile economy cannot afford a prolonged war on its border.

Deployment under mutual defence pact comes as Islamabad hosts US-Iran ceasefire talks  

Despite hosting Ceasefire talks; Pakistan is drawn into Iran-US War 

Donald Trump's 'favourite field marshall' lost something !! 

But in remarks on the White House lawn, US President Donald Trump says America wins "regardless", and that he doesn't care about the outcome of negotiations.

He told media that whether or not a deal is reached with Iran "makes no difference to me".

Pakistan has deployed fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, its first visible military move under a mutual defence pact between the two countries.

Hosting the hyped ceasefire talks aimed at ending weeks of regional fighting between the US, Israel and Iran did not save Munir from sparing his men and ship.

The aircraft — a mix of fighter and support jets — landed at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Defence announced.  

The deployment came under a collective defence agreement signed in September 2025, which commits each country to treat an attack on the other as an attack on itself.

The pact was signed during a visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh in Septembr 2025, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

Pakistan wanted to stay away from a military and combatant commitment as its economy is shaky. 

Since Iran launched missile and drone strikes on what it described as US targets in Gulf states following the US-Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Pakistan has been balancing its commitments on both sides.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he personally warned Iranian leaders that Islamabad was bound by its obligations to Riyadh under the agreement in early March.

Iran sought guarantees that Saudi territory would not be used to attack it. 

Notably, the role religion - precisely Islam - has played in fostering perceived connection for Pakistan to host the peace parleys. But if conflict begins or intensifies between Saudis and Iran; the neutral position of Islamabad will uder scanner. 

Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country with one of the world's largest Shia populations. 

Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Iran, the biggest Shia country, on pilgrimage every year.  

Pakistan has challenges on other fronts. It does not have good relations with two immediate neighbours India and Afghanistan.

Pakistan needs to stay away from wars after it has endured years of political unrest, a frustrating economy on the brink of a debt default.  

Needless to add : 

If US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad collapse, the fallout will haunt Pakistan 

Islamabad's decision to step in as a diplomatic host was like a compulsion and less of a choice. It is not merely an attempt to assert relevance on the global stage, but an act of strategic self-preservation. Tensions can actually spiral back into confrontation for Pakistan.  

Kamran Bokhari, senior resident fellow with the Middle East Policy Council, said:

“Pakistan does not want anarchy in Iran as an outcome of continued warfare, which would greatly exacerbate the pre-existing acute security situation on its western flank.”  

Pakistan is already in crisis. The country is highly dependent on oil and gas imports from the Gulf. Hundreds of thousands of its citizens work in Gulf countries. The Strait of Hormuz closure spiked oil prices globally, but Pakistan felt the pain acutely.

Even after Iran allowed Pakistani vessels to transit through Hormuz, the government fell back on pandemic-style restrictions: school closures, work-from-home orders, early market shutdowns and reduced public transport.  

Why can’t Pakistan afford war with Iran?

It is already dealing with a serious economic crisis and fighting insurgencies on several fronts.

Estimated to have 20 to 25 per cent Shia population; making any alignment against Iran will be politically explosive. Pakistan will have to stand in solidarity with Saudi Arabia under the defence pact.

Another question is what, if anything, the representatives of both US and Iran will bring back home when they do return to their respective countries. Both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been eager to project strength and claim victory throughout the war, and it's been difficult to separate fact from political bluster.

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