Country sees improved ties with US as it emerges as key party undertaking Middle East mediation efforts amid regional tensions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC on September 25, 2025. Photo: Handout
A year after the military confrontation between Pakistan and India triggered by the Pahalgam attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, Pakistan’s international profile underwent a remarkable shift, according to a piece by The Diplomat.
Following the attack, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan and Islamabad repeatedly denied, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on the night of May 6-7, claiming to target militant training sites in the country in an 88-hour military operation. Pakistan responded with ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos’, which escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and sparked global concern.
While India subsequently stepped up efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan over allegations of cross-border militancy, the report noted that Islamabad’s global standing had since seen an unexpected recalibration.
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In recent months, Pakistan has attracted international attention for its involvement in mediation efforts between Iran and the United States amid the Middle East crisis. The report stated that Islamabad had hosted indirect engagement between the two sides on 11-12. April, with The Economist described Pakistan as a “dexterous handler of global power politics” in April 2026.
The publication suggested that Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic relevance had been shaped in part by changing global priorities, including reduced international focus on terrorism after 9/11 and competing crises such as the Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East.
It noted that while Pakistan had long faced accusations of allowing militant groups to operate within its territory, the international response to India’s allegations following the Pahalgam attack was relatively muted, reflecting shifting geopolitical priorities.
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The Diplomat further noted that the aftermath of Operation Sindoor also contributed to internal political consolidation in Pakistan, strengthening the position of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. Following the conflict, he was promoted to Field Marshal in May 2025 and later appointed Chief of Defense Forces in December 2025 under a constitutional amendment aimed at unifying military command.
The report further stated that Pakistan’s engagement with the United States had improved under the current administration, with Islamabad credited with facilitating diplomatic outreach during ceasefire discussions in West Asia. Pakistan was also included in international diplomatic initiatives related to Gaza stabilization efforts.
Pakistan-US relations were further affected by growing strategic interests, including critical minerals and regional security cooperation, according to the report.
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However, The Diplomat stressed that Pakistan continued to face significant domestic challenges, including political instability, economic pressures and security threats. It noted the ongoing tensions between civilian institutions and the military, restrictions on political dissent and the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan since 2023.
The report added that while Pakistan had secured continued financial support from the International Monetary Fund, economic vulnerability remained, particularly amid regional instability and challenges in resource-rich regions such as Balochistan.
A Washington-based assessment cited in the report warned that Pakistan’s strategy of leveraging international diplomatic relevance to stabilize internal relations remained uncertain, adding that future political and economic pressures could intensify if current trends reversed.
