Houston, December 25 — After years on the margins of international diplomacy, Pakistan re-emerged as a key player on the global stage in 2025, driven by regional security developments, renewed diplomatic engagement, and shifting geopolitical alignments, according to a feature story published in The Diplomat.
The year proved to be a turning point for Pakistan as it regained strategic relevance despite continuing political instability and economic stress at home. Analysts point to four major developments that shaped Pakistan’s trajectory in 2025, highlighting both renewed opportunities and unresolved internal challenges.
Pakistan’s resurgence was triggered in May by a brief but intense military confrontation with India. The four-day clash drew global attention to Pakistan’s military capabilities, particularly its air power, and reinforced perceptions of its ability to counter India’s military modernization. Observers noted that the episode restored Pakistan’s strategic credibility at a time when the country was grappling with terrorism, economic pressure, and political divisions.
In the aftermath, Pakistan’s relations with the United States improved noticeably, while Washington’s ties with New Delhi faced visible strain. Islamabad also expanded its defense diplomacy in the Middle East, formalizing a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia and finalizing a $4 billion arms deal with Libya. Talks with other regional states over defense cooperation and arms sales are reportedly ongoing.
China welcomed the performance of defense systems it supplies to Pakistan, a development that helped revive momentum for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan also emerged as a relevant stakeholder in international discussions on Gaza’s stabilization, further enhancing its diplomatic profile.
A second major shift came in Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan. Islamabad adopted a tougher stance against the Afghan Taliban, pressing Kabul to sever ties with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This included cross-border military strikes and the suspension of trade, moves that placed significant pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Pakistan also raised its concerns on international platforms, engaging countries such as Qatar, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia in mediation efforts. As pressure mounted, more than 1,000 Afghan clerics issued a decree banning attacks on neighboring countries from Afghan soil.
On the economic front, however, challenges persisted. Foreign direct investment continued to decline, while high energy costs, heavy taxation, and structural weaknesses hampered industrial growth and exports. Poverty levels rose as international pledges of financial assistance largely failed to materialize. Amid this bleak outlook, one notable development was the successful privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), marking the country’s first major state-owned enterprise privatization in nearly two decades. The move was widely seen as a potential catalyst for broader economic reform.
Domestically, political tensions remained high. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continued its confrontation with the federal government and the military, with protests and resistance from its provincial administration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa complicating governance and counterterrorism efforts. At the same time, the state took firm action against extremist groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), signaling a growing intolerance for violent radicalism. The army chief’s assertion that only the state has the authority to declare jihad was seen as a significant message to religious actors.
Globally, Pakistan’s re-emergence unfolded against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical volatility. Ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising terrorism across parts of Africa and Asia, and an international shift toward hard power and coercive economic measures—particularly by the United States—created an unpredictable environment.
Experts caution that Pakistan’s gains in 2025 could be short-lived without internal political unity and meaningful economic reforms. While international momentum has favored Islamabad over the past year, analysts warn that sustained progress will depend on stabilizing domestic politics, restoring investor confidence, and pursuing consistent, pragmatic diplomacy.
As Pakistan enters 2026, the challenge will be to consolidate its renewed global relevance while addressing the deep-seated internal issues that continue to test the country’s resilience.