Is Pakistan Really Part of the Middle East? Expert Insights on Geography, Culture, and Identity

The question of whether Pakistan belongs to the Middle East—geographically, culturally, or politically—is far more nuanced than simple maps suggest. Despite being largely situated in South Asia, Pakistan’s historical ties, regional interactions, and geopolitical positioning complicate its continental classification. While not traditionally grouped with the Middle Eastern nations of the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and Iberian South, Pakistan shares overlapping identities shaped by religion, history, and strategic interests.

This analysis unpacks the key factors determining Pakistan’s place in the broader regional mosaic, examining geography, cultural affinities, religious linkages, political relationships, and the debate among scholars and policymakers.

Geographically, Pakistan forms a crucial bridge between South Asia and the Middle East, though it lies firmly within the South Asian continent. The country spans over 881,000 square kilometers, bordered by Afghanistan to the west, India to the east, and Iran to the southwest. Its southern coastline touches the Arabian Sea, placing it within the extended cultural and historical sphere often associated with the Middle East via trade, faith, and shared Islamic heritage.

While geologically part of the Indian tectonic plate—connected to the Himalayas—Pakistan’s western frontier directly abuts the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape, especially through the porous Afghan and Iranian borders.

Historical and Cultural Dimensions: A Middle Eastern Tapestry

Pakistan’s cultural and historical roots intertwine deeply with those of the Middle East, particularly through the spread of Islam. Greater Pakistan—including modern-day Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan—was incorporated into the Islamic world by the 8th century, following early Arab conquests and the establishment of trade and scholarly networks across the Arabian Sea. The region became a crossroads for religious scholars, Sufi mystics, and scholars, cementing its Islamic identity long before the partition of British India in 1947.

Today, over 96% of Pakistan’s population identifies as Muslim, with strong adherence to Sunni Islam, closely aligned with mainstream practices found across the Middle East. The country’s religious festivals, architecture, and educational institutions reflect this shared heritage—mosques echo styles from Mecca and Medina, and Urdu, though evolved locally, carries lexical roots in Arabic and Persian.

Arbitrary geographic categorizations often overlook cultural and religious continuity. Pakistan’s Sufi traditions, for example, mirror those in Egypt, Turkey, and Iran, emphasizing personal spirituality, poetry, and communal gatherings.

The legacy of figures like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai or Amir Khusrow—poets whose works echo across Persianate literary traditions—blurs regional boundaries. Even Urdu, Pakistan’s national language, evolved as a synthesis of Persian, Arabic, and indigenous tongues, forming a literary bridge between South Asia and the Middle East.

Political and Strategic Alignments: Soft Ties Across Borders

Beyond culture, Pakistan’s political and strategic relationships reinforce connectivity with Middle Eastern states. The country maintains formal diplomatic ties with every Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation, plus strong partnerships with Iran, Turkey, and Egypt.

Bilateral agreements span defense cooperation, energy trade, and labor migration—millions of Pakistani workers remit billions annually to Middle Eastern economies, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These flows not only economically bind the regions but also deepen people-to-people connections.

Pakistan’s regional diplomacy reflects nuanced alignment rather than rigid bloc membership. It participates in Islamic confederations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where it collaborates with Middle Eastern powers on issues ranging from Islamophobia to humanitarian aid.

Diplomatic events—such as the 2023 OPEC+ summit hosted in Turkmenistan with strong Pakistani observer interest—signal growing integration into broader Eurasian political dialogues that include key Middle Eastern players. Furthermore, Pakistan’s balancing act between relationships with Iran (a critical energy and trade partner) and Gulf monarchies showcases its strategic geographic role as a mediator.

Debate and Ambiguity: Why Pakistan Is Not Officially Part of the Middle East

Despite religious and cultural affinities, Pakistan is not recognized by international geographic standards as part of the Middle East. The Middle East, as defined by global institutions, encompasses the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, parts of North Africa, and extending into Southwest Asia—strictly oriented toward the Levant, the Gulf, and the Horn of Africa.

Pakistan’s location, separated by distance and tectonic boundaries, situates it firmly within South Asia, not the Middle Eastern continent. Yet, this classification excludes rich intersections that define Pakistan’s identity. Geographers, historians, and anthropologists often note that “Middle East” and “South Asia” overlap in cultural and civilizational spheres more profoundly than strict cartography advises.

The region’s shared Islamic character, linguistic borrowings, and historical empires create a blended reality that defies easy boundaries.

Scholars such as Dr. Ayesha Jalal, renowned historian of South and West Asia, note: “Mapping the Middle East is both a practical tool and a conceptual limitation. When we acknowledge Pakistan’s deep spiritual and civilizational ties to the broader Islamic world, we confront the myth of absolute geographic separation.” This hybrid identity—rooted South Asia yet deeply Middle Eastern in faith and tradition—positions Pakistan as a vital, bridging state in Eurasia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

Navigating Identity in a Complex Regional Ecosystem

Understanding whether Pakistan is “part of the Middle East” depends on disciplinary lenses: geographic cartography says no, cultural and religious geography say yes, diplomatic practice says they interconnect deeply.

Pakistan is not a Middle Eastern country in territorial terms, but its societal ethos, historical memory, and strategic partnerships forge a meaningful presence within the wider Islamic and regional narrative. In an era of globalized identities and shifting power dynamics, Pakistan exemplifies how nations can straddle continent-spanning divides without being confined by them. Its role bridges South Asia and the Middle East—transforming ambiguity into opportunity, and classification into connection.

Pakistan’s identity resists singular categorization, reminding us that geography alone cannot fully capture the spirit of a nation shaped by faith, history, and geopolitical reality.

As regional ties deepen and old binaries give way to layered affinities, Pakistan stands not as an outlier, but as a bridge—proving that place is not always the whole story.