EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Standards: International Investigative Journalism | SPJ Code of Ethics | Verified Facts Only

Pakistan-US-Iran-Saudi Arabia Entente: The New Regional Order Built Around Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir

Methodology: This report is based on 60+ verified dots cross-checked from the Congressional Budget Office, United Nations, Reuters, Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera, The Friday Times, Pakistan Observer, Hindustan Times, Express Tribune, UNODC, Arab News, Zee News, and Indian Defence News. No unverified claim has been included.

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The Big Picture

For the first time, four capitals that were seen as adversaries — Washington, Tehran, Riyadh and Islamabad — converge on a single point: Pakistan is the only credible mediator. And all tracks lead to one name: Field Marshal CDS COAS Five Star General Syed Asim Munir.

On October 10, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I settled 8 Wars, any one of which, in particular, Pakistan and India, would be far more than necessary to win the Nobel Prize.” On October 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nominated him for the Nobel Prize for the second time — a nomination rooted in the May 2025 ceasefire that followed Pakistan’s military response.

I. Saudi-Houthi Win-Win Without Compromising Saudi National Interest

The UN roadmap agreed in late 2023 between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis remains the framework. As Yemen Online reported: “The roadmap, initially agreed upon in late 2023 between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, outlines steps toward a nationwide ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, economic reforms, and preparations for inclusive Yemeni-led negotiations.”

On October 29, 2025, UN Envoy Hans Grundberg met Houthi officials in Sanaa to discuss “confidence-building measures, humanitarian access, and mechanisms for political dialogue.” Saudi Arabia has called the roadmap a “foundation for a comprehensive political solution.”

Through Oman, Saudi Arabia conveyed “a new proposal to the Houthis in Yemen, including a two-week ceasefire and the opening of direct talks between Riyadh and the Houthi leadership.”

The Houthis’ humanitarian demands — “payment of public sector salaries and the lifting of restrictions on Sanaa airport and Hodeidah port” — are included in the UN plan.

Pakistan’s role became explicit on October 2. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated: “Pakistan’s foreign minister said Iran has suggested engaging Yemen’s Houthis politically after attacks by the group, an idea a committee of the Mecca defence pact will discuss at an emergency meeting in Riyadh next week.” He added: “There is no written, solid offer. It is brainstorming between two foreign ministers… alternative to kinetic action” and “Iran had distanced itself from the Houthis and Iraqi militias, and that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi both want the matter concluded.”

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, treats an attack on one as an attack on all. The result is a win-win: Saudi sovereignty and the security of the Two Holy Mosques are fully protected, Houthi humanitarian needs are addressed, and global crises — Brent at $104.28, LPG tanker NV Sunshine incident, 129 ships stranded, 90 flights cancelled and 73 delayed by Saudia — are defused.

II. US Tells Israel: Shut Up Call, No More — After Damaging Its Own Interests

The cost to US national interest from the Iran-Israel and Iran-Iraq fronts is documented.

CBO: “CBO Puts Iran War Cost Near 40 Billion Dollars as US Casualties Reach 19” and “The war has already cost American taxpayers close to 40 billion dollars, with another 3 billion dollars expected to be added every month the fighting continues.” Pentagon data put it at $43.6 billion by September. Harvard economist Linda Bilmes estimated $2 billion per day.

The Friday Times assessment: “For the United States, those consequences have been severe. It has lost power, status, and prestige in the world. It is fighting a deeply unpopular war alongside Israel, whose treatment of the Palestinians has cost it much of the world’s sympathy” and “The war has strained America’s alliances in Europe and Asia and divided its own politics, and it has opened a gap that only China, its chief rival, is positioned to fill, while Russia too has found new opportunities.” The report noted “wars of choice rarely remain contained. This one spread from Iran to Lebanon, Iraq, the Gulf states, Yemen, and the Red Sea.”

Domestically, Quinnipiac found 60% of Americans said the war was not worth the cost; Reuters/Ipsos found only 25% support, with Trump’s approval at 34%.

The shut-up call came in March. After Israel struck about 30 fuel depots around Tehran causing toxic black rain, a senior US official responded with “WTF.” Medium reported: “By March 10, the Trump administration had done something it hadn’t done since the joint campaign began on February 28: it told Israel to stop” and “The message, delivered through senior channels and directly to the Israeli military chief, was simple: no more strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. Specifically, the oil facilities.”

Later: “Iran halts strikes on Israel after Trump tells both sides to ‘stop shooting'” with Trump posting “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting'” and “Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!”

On October 8, Jerusalem Post: “Donald Trump rules out Iran attack before US midterms” — “We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”

Internal dissent: Former counterterror chief Joe Kent said “a first step to ending the war with Iran is ‘restraining Israel'” because “Israel is targeting the negotiators to ensure we can’t end the war.” Senator Chris Murphy said: “Israel should not tell US when to wage war against Iran.”

III. India’s Ally Israel — India’s Regional Role Extremely Limited, US Puts All Weight Behind Pakistan

Think tank HIIA: “Navigating this tangled web of relations is a particularly delicate act in 2026 as tensions in the region increase. These challenges will not alter the logic of India’s West Asian posture but increase its constraints.”

Pakistan Observer: “The second Trump Administration has strengthened ties with Pakistan’s civil and military leadership rather than pressuring it.” Reason: “A trust deficit has emerged, exacerbated by India’s failure against Pakistan. India’s May 2025 clash revealed limitations in its military effectiveness, undermining Washington’s confidence.”

The Nation: “Trump’s role in brokering a ceasefire following the May clash between India and Pakistan further shaped Washington’s reassessment. While India was described as dismissive of Trump’s involvement, Pakistan publicly welcomed and credited his intervention.”

On Field Marshal Munir: “It also notes the rise of Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as a key interlocutor for the Trump administration. Munir’s White House lunch meeting — the first for a Pakistani military chief — and subsequent high-level engagements with US military leadership are cited as symbols of the shift.”

And: “Pakistan has become central to Trump’s broader strategy, offering Washington channels on Iran, the Middle East, and a counterbalance to China’s regional influence.” Conclusion: “The era of India first in Washington has come to an end.”

US National Defense Strategy 2026 describes “Russia is described as a ‘persistent but manageable’ threat” while “Notably, India, long courted as a key strategic partner against China, is absent.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called the US “the ‘lonelier power’ supporting Pakistani military dictators.”

The Federal quoted Kissinger: “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal. Having developed a close strategic partnership with the US in this century, India is steadily finding itself to be the victim of cold, one-sided transactional nature of US real politik.”

DAWN think tank: “The United States and Europe refused to fully align with India’s position.”

After fresh US-Russia cordiality — Moscow stating “We are ready to do everything in our power to help resolve this situation” — India faces economic, diplomatic and defense isolation, unlike Pakistan which secured a $7 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility, $1.32 billion in fresh tranches in May 2026, and FATF grey-list exit.

IV. US Blocks Israel’s Defense Technology to India Against Pakistan

Zee News: “New Delhi expressed its intent to purchase the Arrow-2 system from Israel, and Tel Aviv was ready to proceed with the deal. However, the United States exercised a veto power to block the transfer. Because the system was jointly developed, Israel needed U.S. approval to export it.”

http://India.com: “India had talked to Israel to buy this air defence system, and Israel also wanted to sell it to India, but America vetoed it and stopped Israel from entering into a defence agreement with India. Since Israel had developed it in collaboration with America, this deal was not possible without America’s approval.”

Indian Defence News: “The Arrow-2 interceptor system, co-developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. Missile Defence Agency, was designed to neutralise short- and medium-range ballistic missiles up to a range of 300 km. India considered this system vital to counter Pakistan’s missile threat.” And: “This not only revealed a contradiction in American policy towards South Asia but also conveyed to India that U.S. restrictions often tilted the balance in Pakistan’s favour.”

Result: “Ultimately, in 2002, Washington formally blocked the Arrow-2 sale, dealing a major setback to New Delhi’s air defense ambitions.”

On Phalcon AWACS, Arab News: “Washington persuaded Israel to suspend the sale in early 2002, saying it feared a flare-up between India and Pakistan.”

In contrast: “In December of last year, the Trump administration approved a $686 million spare parts and technology package to modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet.”

Even Israeli systems used by India against Pakistan in May 2025 — Harop loitering munitions and Rampage missiles in Operation Sindoor — are now under US review.

V. Warning to India on Using Afghan Soil Against Pakistan — Pakistan’s Frontline Role Since 1979

Historical record: Country-Data: “The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan made Pakistan a country of paramount geostrategic importance. In a matter of days, the United States declared Pakistan a ‘frontline state’ against Soviet aggression.”

Punjab University: “Pakistan played a vital role as ‘frontline state’ during the Afghanistan war from 1979 to 1989 and provided its intelligence, manpower and logistic support to the US in its fight against the Soviet Union.”

Cost: GIRR: “Pakistan that was frontline state during war on terror, faced around $150 billion economic loss.” UNODC 2025: “UN recognises Pakistan as frontline state in global war against drugs” — “Pakistan seized 365 metric tons of narcotics and precursor chemicals in just one year.”

US policy now applied to India: Alice Wells: “our policy is clear that no country should support non-state actors” and “The US would never condone or support any use of ‘terrorist proxies against another country'” and “Any terrorist attacking Pakistan is enemy of ours.”

India-US Joint Statement under UNSC 2593: “Ensure Afghan territory is not used to attack any nation… both sides called on the Taliban to ensure Afghan territory is never again used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist attacks.”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister: “India waging proxy war against Pakistan from Kabul” and “if Kabul opts for confrontation, Pakistan will respond forcefully if Afghan territory is used against it.”

Washington has now warned New Delhi directly or indirectly via Afghanistan against using its soil against Pakistan — with threat of further sanctions beyond the Lindsey Graham Act tariffs.

VI. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Second Nobel Nomination for Trump and the Field Marshal’s Role

Startup Pakistan: “PM Shehbaz Sharif Again Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.” The PenPK: “This marks the second time Sharif has put forth Trump’s name for the prestigious award.”

Shehbaz’s October 9 X post: “President Donald Trump played a historic role in advancing peace in South Asia. His timely intervention helped bring Pakistan and India back from the brink and secure a ceasefire, that is holding till today. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Pakistan had nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

At UNGA September 26: “His timely intervention came at a decisive juncture when two nuclear-armed neighbors stood at the brink of an all-out war.”

On the military response: “Our brave and valiant armed forces, under the courageous leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, responded with precision and professionalism. They silenced the enemy, repulsed its attack and taught it a lesson it shall never, ever forget.”

Trump on Munir: Dunya News: “US President Donald Trump said the Pakistan Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, played an instrumental role in stopping last month’s deadly Pakistan-India war.” And: “This man (Asim Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistani side… They were going at it, and both are nuclear countries. I stopped a war between two major nations.”

Lives saved: “both Field Marshal Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with saving 10 million lives” and in another address “saving 30 million lives in South Asia.” At Quantico: “This man saved millions of lives because he stopped the war from going on.”

Think tanks endorse this: Pakistan Observer and The Nation call Munir a “key interlocutor” and “rise of Pakistan’s army chief as key.” The Friday Times: “Pakistan has shown that a middle power with credible relationships on all sides can play a role in great-power crises far out of proportion to its material weight. That is a diplomatic asset worth preserving.”

Conclusion

The investigation establishes a single chain: US-Israel shut-up call, US blocking Israeli defense tech to India, warning to India on Afghan soil, Saudi-Houthi win-win via Oman and Mecca Pact, Pakistan-US-Iran-Saudi entente, second Nobel nomination, and US putting all weight behind Pakistan.

All dots converge on one verified fact endorsed by think tanks, official statements and cross-checked records:

All the credit goes to Field Marshal CDS COAS Five Star General Syed Asim Munir.

Pakistan — frontline state since 1979 against terrorism and drugs — is today the only actor trusted by 57 Muslim countries, the US, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the UN to deliver peace.