Iran’s soft power in Pakistan

Abstract

AbstractStates use elements of their culture to promote their influence in countries of strategic importance to them. Despite a growing body of literature on soft power, there is a shortage of literature on Iran’s influence in its neighbourhood. How is Iran viewed in Pakistan? This article is based on in‐depth interviews and an online survey with informed participants in Pakistan. Our findings demonstrate that while many participants view Tehran’s policies negatively, the majority see Iran in a favourable light. This article found that Iran’s multi‐pronged strategy connects with pre‐existing trends and pressure points in Pakistan at different levels. As a majority‐Shi’a country, Iran has become a point of reference for the Shi’a community in Pakistan. Its anti‐American rhetoric corresponds with an anti‐US current in Pakistan, and Tehran’s invocation of Persian culture and poetry resonates with a nostalgic view of Persian culture amongst Pakistan’s educated elite.