Pakistan and Iraq Prime Ministers Attend Ali Khamenei Funeral

The funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Mashhad, Iran, concluded following a four-day ceremony on July 6, 2026. The event served as a diplomatic gauge of regional power dynamics, with only the prime ministers of Pakistan and Iraq, Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif and Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi, attending the rites. This alignment suggests the emergence of an "Axis of Sympathy" and a strategic rapprochement between Iran and Pakistan.

This diplomatic shift follows Pakistan's central role as a mediator during a 40-day conflict in the Gulf in 2026. Pakistani officials facilitated negotiations in Islamabad between Iran and the United States, securing a ceasefire that included the cessation of Israeli operations in Lebanon. The rapprochement is expected to increase future cooperation on regional stability and shared border security.

In contrast, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined to attend the funeral, sending only lower-ranking officials. This absence reflects India's strategic partnership with Israel and its policy of multi-alignment. Additionally, India did not condemn the February 28 joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike that assassinated Khamenei.