In a recent statement, former US diplomat H.E. Prof. Joanne Held Cummings underscored Pakistan's often-underappreciated yet critical role in Middle Eastern geopolitics. She argued that Islamabad has performed 'yeoman work'—meaning diligent, unglamorous, and steadfast labor—deserving enormous credit. Cummings highlighted Pakistan's deep-rooted, long-standing ties with Gulf countries, which allow it to serve as a trusted interlocutor. More importantly, she noted Pakistan's unique ability to 'step back and look at the issues as a whole,' offering a balanced, long-term perspective that many direct regional players lack due to immediate national interests. While acknowledging that Pakistan cannot single-handedly fix the region's conflicts, Cummings asserted that it has a role 'others simply might not be able to play.' My opinion: This assessment is spot-on. Pakistan often gets overlooked in Middle East diplomacy because it lacks the oil wealth or military superpower status of other actors. However, its strategic position as a nuclear-armed, Muslim-majority nation with strong ties to both Saudi Arabia and Iran gives it rare bridging capacity. Furthermore, Pakistan's experience with counterterrorism, peacekeeping, and domestic religious diversity lends credibility when mediating sectarian or extremist issues. The international community should leverage Pakistan's quiet statesmanship more proactively—especially as the Gulf region faces shifting alliances and the Israel-Palestine conflict remains volatile. Pakistan's 'yeoman' diplomacy is not flashy, but it is precisely the kind of persistent, behind-the-scenes work that prevents crises from spiraling.