A prominent international publication, The Diplomat, has highlighted Pakistan’s progress and prosperity while reclaiming a prominent position on the global stage after years of marginalisation.
The Diplomat reported in its article about Pakistan’s strategic comeback in 2025 on Thursday, saying that in many respects, 2025 proved to be a turning point for Pakistan. After years on the margins of global politics, the country once again found itself relevant in international affairs, even as long-standing political and economic instability at home continued to pose serious challenges.
Four major developments shaped this complex landscape, underscoring both the opportunities that emerged for Pakistan and the obstacles it continued to confront throughout the year.
The Army Chief took a categorical stance that the authority to declare jihad rests solely with the state, which The Diplomat described as a major milestone against extremism. The clear vision of the military leadership strengthened the state writ, and its role in promoting state discipline was prominent.
The magazine, highlighting the military clashes with India in May 2025, said that the performance of the Pakistani forces clarified the military balance and strengthened Pakistan’s strategic credibility and deterrence despite internal challenges. Despite limited resources, the forces responded effectively, which focused the attention of global defence experts on the achievements of the Pakistani army.
According to The Diplomat, the successful performance against India highlighted the professionalism of the Pakistani military leadership, and the Pakistani army regained a central position in the global military debate. In addition, Pakistan’s military performance restored global confidence and strengthened the country’s strategic reputation.
The report said that Pakistan-US relations have seen a significant improvement, while Washington has felt pressure to adopt a new policy after the action against India. Pakistan’sdefencee defence deals in the Middle East, major bilateral defence agreements with Saudi Arabia, and defence cooperation have further strengthened Pakistan’s regional role.
Moreover, global demand for Pakistan’s defence equipment has increased, a favourable global environment has been created for the second phase of CPEC, and Pakistan has been identified as a key player in global efforts related to Gaza. In Afghanistan, Pakistan has adopted a clear and reasoned stance and taken strong measures against the TTP, which has increased pressure on the Taliban regime.
According to The Diplomat, Pakistan has highlighted cross-border threats globally by involving Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia in mediation roles and has achieved domestic successes against terrorism. Cooperation with various countries has increased, and progress has been made on reform measures despite economic difficulties.
Effective measures against extremism have been described as a new and clear sign of state policy, and Pakistan has had rare opportunities for reform by taking advantage of the global atmosphere. Despite the difficulties in the economy, progress was seen in the privatisation of PIA, which could potentially prove to be a turning point for the country.
