Country sees improved US ties as it emerges as key party taking up Mideast 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 Pakistan-India military confrontation triggered by the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, Pakistan’s international profile underwent a notable shift, according to a piece by The Diplomat.
Following the attack, which New Delhi had blamed on Pakistan and Islamabad repeatedly refuted the allegation, 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 neighbours and triggered global concern.
While India subsequently intensified 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 drew 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 April 11–12, with The Economist describing Pakistan as a “deft handler of global power politics” in April 2026.
The publication suggested that Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic relevance had been shaped partly by shifting global priorities, including reduced international focus on post-9/11 terrorism dynamics and competing crises such as the Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East.
It noted that although Pakistan had long faced allegations of allowing militant groups to operate within its territory, international response to India’s accusations following the Pahalgam attack had been comparatively muted, reflecting changing 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 elevated to Field Marshal in May 2025 and later appointed Chief of Defence 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 for facilitating diplomatic outreach during ceasefire discussions in West Asia. Pakistan was also included in international diplomatic initiatives related to Gaza stabilisation efforts.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States were further influenced by growing strategic interests, including critical minerals and regional security cooperation, according to the report.
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However, The Diplomat underscored that Pakistan continued to face significant domestic challenges, including political instability, economic pressure, and security threats. It noted 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 stabilise internal conditions remained uncertain, adding that future political and economic pressures could intensify if current trends reversed.
