Pakistan ends 2025 not as a state that reacts to events, but as one that increasingly shapes them
ISLAMABAD:
Few could have predicted at the start of 2025 that Pakistan’s foreign policy would end the year on such a dramatically different footing.
Long perceived as a country navigating diplomatic isolation, economic fragility and regional pressure, Pakistan closed out 2025 having regained strategic relevance across multiple theaters.
At the heart of this shift was an unprecedented turnaround in relations between Pakistan and the United States following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a development that reshaped Islamabad’s global standing and triggered a broader recalibration of its external engagements.
The most striking foreign policy development in 2025 was the rapid and largely unexpected improvement in Pak-US relations. Contrary to widespread expectations of indifference or renewed friction, President Trump adopted a markedly positive and transactional approach to Pakistan shortly after taking office.
In several public statements, Trump openly praised Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, acknowledging the country’s role in regional security and counterterrorism. The turning point in the relationship was the capture of one of the masterminds behind the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul Airport in August 2021.
The capture and extradition of the Daesh terrorist prompted Trump to openly praise Pakistan in his maiden address to Congress. The anti-terror cooperation revived the channel of communication between the two countries, which was practically non-existent during Joe Biden’s term.
Such direct praise from a US president, especially one known for blunt diplomacy, was unprecedented in recent memory and sent a strong signal to Washington’s political establishment.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic and military channels were reactivated at speed. High-level engagements resumed, intelligence cooperation deepened, and Pakistan was increasingly described by US officials as a “reliable regional partner” rather than a problematic ally of the past.
The focus of engagement extended beyond Afghanistan to include South Asian stability, Middle Eastern security and counter-terrorism cooperation. Trump’s worldview, driven less by ideology and more by immediate strategic utility, worked in Pakistan’s favor.
Islamabad positioned itself as a cyber security provider in an unstable region, offering cooperation without seeking the kind of alliance commitments that had complicated ties in previous decades. By the end of 2025, Pak-US relations had not only stabilized; they had been substantively redefined.
The Four Day War and its aftermath
If the US reset marked a diplomatic breakthrough, the four-day India-Pakistan war in May marked a turning point in Pakistan’s regional stance. The brief but intense military confrontation brought South Asia perilously close to escalation, again drawing global attention to the region’s volatility.
Pakistan’s response, combining military preparedness with deft diplomacy, quietly won recognition from key international capitals.
After the Pahalgam attack in April, when India threatened cross-border strikes, the outside world was wary of Pakistan’s ability to ward off, let alone inflict, any harm on India. But when India launched missile strikes deep inside Pakistan, the response from Islamabad surprised not only New Delhi but world capitals. Pakistan shot down at least seven Indian fighter jets, including four French-made highly sophisticated Rafales.
While the conflict underscored the ongoing hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, it also changed perceptions. Pakistan was not seen as an instigator but as a state capable of defending its interests while avoiding uncontrolled escalation.
The diplomatic phase after the war proved equally important. Islamabad’s engagement with major powers, including the US, China, Gulf states and European partners, reinforced the message that Pakistan remained indispensable to regional stability.
In contrast, concerns grew internationally over India’s increasingly assertive stance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly its willingness to test military thresholds.
A rising geostrategic profile
After the confrontation between Pakistan and India, Pakistan’s geostrategic profile rose significantly. Regional and extra-regional actors began to reassess Pakistan’s role not just as a South Asian actor but as a bridge between South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia.
This recalibration translated into tangible diplomatic gains. Pakistan intensified strategic coordination with key Middle Eastern partners and positioned itself as a stabilizing force amid ongoing unrest in Gaza, the Red Sea and the wider Gulf region.
Islamabad played an active diplomatic role in discussions surrounding a peace framework in Gaza, leveraging its credibility with both Western and Muslim states. While the conflict itself remained unresolved, Pakistan’s engagement elevated its status as a responsible voice advocating for a ceasefire, humanitarian access and a political way forward.
Deepening of ties with the Gulf states.
One of the most consistent results of Pakistan’s increased strategic relevance was the defense pact signed with Saudi Arabia in 2025. In addition to Riyadh, Pakistan strengthened ties with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, strengthening its role as a trusted security partner rather than a partisan actor in Middle Eastern rivalries.
These conditions were supported by Pakistan’s careful balancing act. For Pakistan, this Gulf engagement yielded both strategic and economic dividends, strengthening its position at a time when Middle Eastern security dynamics increasingly intersected with global power competition.
China: Continuity and Consolidation
While Pakistan’s relations with the United States grabbed headlines, its strategic partnership with China continued to deepen steadily in 2025. High-level political and military exchanges remained frequent, reflecting mutual trust and long-term alignment.
Progress under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continued with renewed emphasis on industrial cooperation, energy security and technology. Both sides worked to resolve earlier implementation challenges, signaling a shift from big announcements to consolidation and delivery.
Importantly, Pakistan managed to improve relations with Washington without undermining its partnership with Beijing, an increasingly rare diplomatic balancing act in an era of great power rivalry.
Increasing engagement with Russia
Pakistan’s outreach to Russia also gained momentum in 2025. Senior-level visits, defense consultations and energy discussions underscored Islamabad’s desire to diversify its strategic relations.
While ties between Pakistan and Russia remain limited compared to traditional partnerships, the consistency of high-level engagement marked a shift from episodic contact to structured dialogue. In a multipolar world, Islamabad increasingly positioned itself as a flexible actor open to cooperation across geopolitical lines.
The Afghan Challenge: A Persistent Low
Despite these achievements, 2025 also highlighted the limits of Pakistan’s foreign policy success, particularly in its deteriorating relationship with Afghanistan. Rather than stabilizing, ties with Kabul deteriorated significantly over the course of the year.
Islamabad’s core concern – the presence of militant groups operating from Afghan soil – remained unresolved, while diplomatic engagement yielded little progress. Border tensions, mutual recriminations and the absence of effective communication mechanisms reinforced the mistrust.
Unlike other fronts where Pakistan managed recalibration and engagement, Afghanistan remained a source of strategic frustration, underscoring the complexity of the post-withdrawal regional landscape.
A year of strategic recovery
As 2025 draws to a close, Pakistan’s foreign policy record reflects a year of strategic recovery rather than dramatic transformation. The unprecedented improvement in Pakistan-US relations under President Trump, the post-war recalibration of regional perceptions, growing Middle Eastern engagement, and sustained partnerships with China and Russia collectively restored Pakistan’s relevance on the global stage.
Challenges continue, particularly on the western border, but the broader trajectory suggests a country that has learned to leverage geography, security capabilities and diplomacy more effectively.
In a turbulent international environment, Pakistan 2025 ended up not as a state that responded to events, but as one that increasingly shaped them. Whether this momentum can be maintained into 2026 will depend on internal stability and the ability to translate strategic relevance into long-term economic and political gains.
