ISLAMABAD: Senior pro-government journalist Javed Chaudhry has issued a blunt warning that is sending ripples across diplomatic circles.

If the war does not end within the next 48 hours Pakistan will stand with its Arab brothers against Iran.

Chaudhry insisted Pakistan must take this position because nearly seven million of its citizens live and work in Gulf states.

The claim carries extra weight amid an escalating Middle East conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025.

Under the pact any aggression against one nation is treated as an attack on both.

Official spokespersons have already signalled unconditional support for Riyadh stating Pakistan will stand by Saudi Arabia before it is needed.

The stakes are enormous for Pakistan’s economy and its people.

Official data shows more than 2.7 million Pakistanis reside in Saudi Arabia alone while another 1.6 million live in the UAE with hundreds of thousands in Kuwait Qatar and other Gulf countries.

Collectively these expatriates number close to seven million matching Chaudhry’s figure.

Remittances from the Gulf form the backbone of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

In February 2026 alone the UAE sent 696.2 million dollars and Saudi Arabia contributed 685.5 million dollars in worker remittances.

For the first eight months of fiscal year 2026 total inflows reached 26.5 billion dollars up 10.5 percent year on year.

Any disruption to this flow would deliver a severe blow to an economy already navigating fiscal challenges.

Pakistan has walked a delicate diplomatic line so far.

It is actively mediating between Washington and Tehran offering Islamabad as a venue for direct talks and relaying a 15-point US ceasefire proposal.

At the same time it has condemned strikes on Gulf states while carefully naming only Israel in public statements.

Yet the defence pact with Riyadh leaves limited space for prolonged neutrality.

Analysts note that Iran has already signalled readiness to target regional allies if provoked further.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre border with Iran and maintains deep cultural ties especially with its 40 million Shia citizens.

An open alignment against Tehran could therefore spark domestic unrest and security risks along the frontier.

Still the economic lifeline of seven million Pakistanis and billions in annual remittances tilts the balance toward protecting Gulf interests.

Pakistan trained between 8 000 and 10 000 Saudi military personnel in recent years deepening operational ties.

The mutual defence agreement formalises decades of quiet military cooperation that began long before the 2025 pact.

Chaudhry’s statement reflects growing frustration in pro-government circles over the prolonged conflict.

International media has focused on Pakistan’s mediation efforts but regional outlets and local journalists highlight the mounting pressure from Arab allies.

Saudi Arabia has shown remarkable restraint so far despite direct Iranian attacks on its territory.

If that restraint ends Islamabad’s obligations under the defence pact could be tested within days.

The next 48 hours will prove decisive for regional stability and for Pakistan’s role in it.

Should fighting continue unchecked the country may have no choice but to honour its commitments to its Arab brothers.

Seven million Pakistani lives billions in remittances and a binding defence treaty all hang in the balance.

The government has not yet commented directly on Chaudhry’s remarks but insiders say the message aligns with quiet strategic thinking in Islamabad.

For now Pakistan continues shuttle diplomacy hoping to broker peace before lines are drawn in the sand.