Of late, Pakistan’s diplomatic performance deserves more attention than it gets. Operating in an international system increasingly divided into competing geopolitical blocs, Islamabad has across the summer demonstrated an unusually sophisticated ability to keep multiple doors open at the same time.

This is particularly noteworthy given the global reality that Pakistan’s friends and diplomatic allies often have sharply conflicting interests.

On the surface, China remains Pakistan’s most important strategic partner. Beijing has long backed Islamabad politically, economically and most obviously militarily, while the two countries have continued to deepen co-operation. Yet at the same time, Pakistan has simultaneously maintained exceptionally close relations with Saudi Arabia by way of a far reaching mutual defence relationship, and has also strengthened its strategic ties with Turkey.

These interactions alone would normally constitute a complicated diplomatic balancing act. But add Washington and Tehran to the mix and it becomes considerably more impressive, especially as Islamabad has rebuilt relevance in Washington at precisely the moment when relations between the US and China have become a lot more confrontational.

At the same time, authorities in Pakistan have retained a functioning relationship with America’s arch-rival Iran, despite Tehran’s hostility towards Washington and the long-term strategic importance of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan.

The clearest demonstration of this came about during the US-Iran conflict when at its peak. Pakistan positioned itself as an intermediary between Washington and Iran, hosted talks in Islamabad and maintained channels to both sides.

As IntelliNews reported at the time, this was a high-stakes and high-risk balancing act, but it was one recognised by both Washington and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia’s response at the time was equally significant. Riyadh publicly praised Pakistan’s mediation efforts following the initial April ceasefire. China, meanwhile, worked is a less obvious manner with Pakistan on a five-point initiative for restoring peace in the Gulf and Middle East.

Such moves by Pakistan, however, should not be seen as Islamabad seeing a form of neutrality. The country has clear interests and relationships and in this regard even the current defence commitments to Saudi Arabia could eventually collide with its desire to preserve relations with Iran.

But that is precisely what makes recent Pakistani efforts at diplomacy noteworthy.

Islamabad has recognised the all-important issue to unlocking global stalemates - that geopolitical alignment does not have to mean geopolitical exclusivity. It has used geography, military capability, longstanding relationships and its all-important position as a significant voice in the Muslim world to create room for manoeuvre.

The outcome is space to move — and with that space comes the power and influence Pakistan is currently enjoying.