Pakistan is in South Asia — but its location puts it at the meeting point of three regions. This guide answers ‘where is Pakistan located’ completely: the continent, the neighbourhood, and the strategic position that shapes its history.
Quick answer: Pakistan is located in South Asia, at 24°–37° N, 61°–76° E — bordered by India (east), Afghanistan (west), Iran (southwest), China (north) and the Arabian Sea (south). Capital: Islamabad. Time zone: UTC+5.
In this guide
The Short Answer
Continent: Asia. Region: South Asia. Coordinates: ~24°–37° N, 61°–76° E. Capital: Islamabad (33.7° N, 73.1° E). Time zone: Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5). If you’re looking at a map: find India, go west — the kite-shaped country between India and Afghanistan is Pakistan.
The Neighbourhood
Four land neighbours and a sea: India to the east (~2,912 km), Afghanistan to the west (~2,640 km Durand Line), Iran to the southwest (~909 km), China to the north (~596 km), and the Arabian Sea to the south (1,046 km coast). Full detail: neighbouring countries of Pakistan.
Why Location Matters
Pakistan’s position is its destiny: the gateway between South and Central Asia (the historic invasion/trade route through the Khyber Pass), China’s corridor to the Arabian Sea (CPEC/Gwadar), and the Muslim world’s only nuclear power sitting between Iran, Afghanistan, India and China. Every great-power rivalry in Asia touches Pakistan’s borders — which is why the world map keeps coming back to it.
Quick Locator Card
For the searcher in a hurry: Pakistan — South Asia — 24°–37° N, 61°–76° E — UTC+5 — capital Islamabad — borders India, Afghanistan, Iran, China — coast on the Arabian Sea — population 241.5M — independent 14 Aug 1947. Save it, share it, quote it. For the full picture with cities placed: map of Pakistan with cities.
Quick Locator Card
For the searcher in a hurry: Pakistan — South Asia — 24°–37° N, 61°–76° E — UTC+5 — capital Islamabad — borders India, Afghanistan, Iran, China — coast on the Arabian Sea — population 241.5M — independent 14 Aug 1947. Save it, share it, quote it. For the full picture with cities placed: map of Pakistan with cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pakistan in the Middle East?
No — Pakistan is in South Asia. It’s sometimes grouped with the ‘Greater Middle East’ in geopolitics, but geographically and culturally it’s South Asian.
Is Pakistan in Central Asia?
No, but it borders Central Asia via Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor and serves as the region’s trade gateway to the sea — hence the confusion.
