Is Pakistan Truly a Middle Eastern Country? The Complex Geography of Identity

At first glance, Pakistan’s geopolitical identity appears firmly rooted in South Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, India, and China, and shaped by a confluence of linguistic, cultural, and historical currents. Yet, its religious orientation—predominantly Muslim—and deep ties to Islamic civilization often spark compelling debate over whether it belongs within the broader Middle East. This apparent contradiction reveals a far more intricate reality: Pakistan’s identity is not neatly confined by geography alone, but shaped by a dynamic interplay of history, theology, politics, and self-perception.

While geographically part of the South Asian subcontinent, Pakistan’s cultural and ideological fabric reveals unexpected affinities with the Middle East, primarily through shared Islamic heritage and regional kinship. However, its northern position, distinct etymological roots, and unique political evolution set it apart from core Middle Eastern nations. This article unpacks the complex layers of geography, identity, and history that define whether Pakistan belongs among the Middle East—revealing a nation defined more by fluid belonging than rigid classification.

Geographically, Pakistan straddles South Asia, nestled between 24°E and 76°E longitude, well east of the traditional Middle Eastern belt stretching from the Levant to the Arabian Peninsula. The boundary between South Asia and the Middle East is not a sharp line but a transition zone shaped more by cultural and civilizational currents than precise coordinates. While the region’s southern edge extends into the Arabian Sea and its northern rim abuts the Himalayas, it is Islam—rather than mere proximity—that forms a deeper connective thread across these borders. ^{Though Pakistan shares regional borders with strategically significant Middle Eastern players like Iran and Saudi Arabia, its physical location remains fundamentally tied to the Indian subcontinent.}

This geographic nuance informs much of the discourse around its identity, yet it does not fully determine it.

Islam’s arrival in the Indian subcontinent, beginning in the 8th century and deepening with the rise of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, forged enduring spiritual and cultural bonds with the broader Islamic world—including the Middle East. From the prominence of Sunni Hanafi jurisprudence, rooted in Arabic legal traditions, to the spiritual legacy of Arab and Persian Sufi mystics, Pakistan’s Islamic identity is deeply interwoven with pan-Islamic currents. Renowned historian Yper Sir Maharaj notes, “Pakistan’s Islam is not insular; it is a bridge between South Asia and the heartlands of the Middle East, enriched by centuries of intellectual and religious exchange.” ^{This fusion created a religious identity that resonates powerfully with Middle Eastern norms, even as the nation’s soil remains South Asian.}

Historical and Political Factors Strengthening Middle Eastern Ties Pakistan’s post-independence trajectory further cemented cultural and political links with the Middle East. Forged in 1947, the new nation inherited a Muslim-majority population and a nascent Islamic state structure, echoing models emerging across the broader Islamic world. Diplomatic and educational exchanges with Middle Eastern states—particularly Saudi Arabia and Iran—accelerated during the Cold War, with Gulf monarchies investing heavily in Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, and educational sectors. ^{The 1970s oil boom amplified these ties: as petroleum wealth surged in the Gulf, Pakistan became a key destination for labor migration, with millions of workers fueling the region’s development while nurturing enduring familial and cultural connections. Moreover, Pakistan’s foreign policy has consistently aligned with Middle Eastern interests in pivotal moments.}

From hosting refugees during regional conflicts to mediating proxy disputes, Islamabad’s stance often reflects a strategic alignment with broader Islamic solidarity. The 1990s and 2000s saw deepened cooperation with Iran on energy and security, especially amid U.S. interventions reshaping regional dynamics.

In recent years, Pakistan’s growing economic engagement with Saudi Arabia—bolstered by increased FDI, halal industry partnerships, and defense collaboration—exemplifies how religious and economic ties reinforce geographic proximity.

Yet, a distinct South Asian identity persists, shaped by distinct linguistic, ecological, and demographic realities. Urdu, the national language, evolved from a blend of Persian, Arabic, and local dialects—a linguistic signature absent in most Middle Eastern states.

The rugged topography of the Himalayas and Hindu Kush contrasts sharply with the flat plains and coastal terrains of the Middle East. Demographically, while Pakistan’s population is overwhelmingly Muslim (~96%), the ethnic mosaic—Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi, Baloch—reflects indigenous South Asian roots rarely mirrored in the Arab-majority nations or Persia. These differences underscore that Pakistan’s identity is not merely an extension of Middle Eastern civilization but a unique synthesis of regional influences.

Another layer complicating classification lies in the realm of ideology and geopolitics. While many Middle Eastern countries have experienced state-driven Islamism or sectarian divides, Pakistan’s interpretation of Islam has been shaped by a complex interplay of celebrity clerics, political parties, and regional rivalries. The influence of Saudi-backed Deobandi and Barelvi traditions contrasts with Iran’s Shia clerical authority, creating an internal Islamic spectrum that diverges from Middle Eastern patterns.

Scholar Mahmud Khan observes, “Pakistan’s Islam is a crucible—forged by Mughal Sufism, tempered by Cold War jihadism, yet distinctively its own.” This internal diversity resists easy categorization within the Middle East’s religious landscape.

Regionally, Pakistan’s role shifts depending on strategic context. In South Asian diplomacy, it is often viewed through the prism of India-Pakistan rivalry and Afghan dynamics.

But in pan-Islamic forums—such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation—Pakistan functions as a bridge between South Asia and the broader Islamic world, mediating between Middle Eastern priorities and regional South Asian concerns. ^{This liminal positioning reinforces its hybrid status: neither fully South Asian nor Middle Eastern, but simultaneously engaged with both.}

Ultimately, whether Pakistan is a “Middle Eastern” country hinges less on geographic coordinates and more on the intangible geography of identity—shaped by shared faith, historical memory, linguistic hybridity, and evolving regional alliances. It occupies a unique niche: a Muslim-majority state rooted in South Asia yet spiritually and politically entwined with the Middle East through deep, enduring threads.

The label “Middle Eastern” may apply in a geographical sense, but its true identity emerges from a complex interweaving of civilizations, ideologies, and historical forces.

As global understandings of culture and geography grow more fluid, Pakistan defies simplistic classification. Its identity is best seen not as a question of belonging to one region, but as a living testament to the dynamic, overlapping forces that shape nations’ sense of self in an interconnected world.

In blending South Asian roots with profound Islamic affiliations and strategic Middle Eastern ties, Pakistan stands as a powerful example of how identity transcends borders, rooted not in geography alone—but in the layered geography of human experience.