Pakistan's Iran War Dilemma: Caught Between US Demands and Public Fury

• Pakistan faces a severe crisis, balancing US compliance to avoid economic collapse with a radicalized population incensed by the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.
• The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader by US and Israeli forces has sparked violent protests across Pakistan, with a death toll reaching 35.
• Foreign security officers reportedly killed Pakistani citizens during protests at the US consulate in Karachi, highlighting Pakistan's 'moth-eaten sovereignty'.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's attempts at a diplomatic balancing act, condemning Israel but not the US, have been criticized and fueled domestic anger.
• Pakistan's 'strategic hedging' has failed, leaving it dependent on the US while facing internal unrest and border conflicts with the Taliban.