How can Pakistan leverage its geography to become a key energy transit state between the Persian Gulf and China?

Pakistan's geographic position linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Western China is often acknowledged but rarely analysed as an active source of economic leverage. This paper argues that Pakistan's geography functions as a strategic asset through its potential role in regional energy transit. Using qualitative analysis of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar Port, the study examines Pakistan's capacity to facilitate overland energy flows between the Persian Gulf and Western China. The findings indicate that effective institutionalisation of transit infrastructure could reduce China's reliance on vulnerable maritime routes while strengthening Pakistan's economic relevance within regional supply chains. Drawing on small-state strategy, the paper contends that energy transit enables Pakistan to pursue strategic hedging, balancing external dependence with greater autonomy.