India, Sept. 15 -- Modi government baiters were fast on the draw when they pointed to the perceived growing relevance of India's western neighbour Pakistan in global affairs, with de facto ruler Asim Munir mediating on behalf of President Donald Trump with Iran and the US leader backing the Mecca defence pact between Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh on August 7, 2026.

Six months into the Iran war, Tehran is still firing optically guided ballistic missiles at Gulf allies of the US and its proxies-the Houthis in Yemen and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq-playing havoc with Saudi Arabia's energy security architecture by hitting its East-West pipelines, airbases and key cities.

After keeping quiet for nearly six months, the Shia Houthis have opened ano...