Renowned American foreign policy magazine The Diplomat has declared Pakistan a renewed center of global attention in 2025, marking the year as a decisive turning point in the country’s strategic standing, military credibility, and international influence after several years of relative marginalization.
According to The Diplomat, 2025 emerged as a year of strategic comeback and restored military confidence for Pakistan. The country’s military leadership delivered a clear, state-level message against extremism, with the Army Chief unequivocally asserting that the authority to declare jihad rests solely with the state. This stance was described as a landmark moment in Pakistan’s counter-extremism narrative and a defining signal of institutional clarity.
The magazine highlighted that Pakistan’s military leadership demonstrated a coherent strategic vision, reinforcing the writ of the state and strengthening national discipline. Pakistan’s handling of the May 2025 military clashes with India drew significant global attention, placing the country once again at the center of international strategic discourse.
The Diplomat noted that Pakistan’s performance against India clearly underscored the regional military balance, enhancing Pakistan’s strategic credibility and deterrence despite persistent internal challenges and limited resources. The effective response of Pakistan’s armed forces showcased professional excellence and operational readiness, attracting the attention of global defense analysts.
The report emphasized that Pakistan’s military successes in 2025 helped restore international confidence, with decisive leadership decisions contributing to the revival of Pakistan’s strategic reputation. In the aftermath of the conflict with India, Pakistan–United States relations reportedly improved, while India faced growing diplomatic pressure in Washington.
Regionally, Pakistan made notable strategic advances. The magazine described Pakistan’s expanding defense engagement in the Middle East as a major breakthrough, highlighting a significant bilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia that further strengthened Pakistan’s regional role. Global demand for Pakistani defense equipment increased, while China expressed strong satisfaction with the battlefield performance of Chinese-origin defense systems used by Pakistan.
The Diplomat also observed that the evolving global environment created favorable conditions for the second phase of CPEC, and Pakistan was recognized as an important stakeholder in international diplomatic efforts related to Gaza.
On Afghanistan, Pakistan adopted a firm and well-articulated position. The report noted a decisive hardening of Pakistan’s policy against the TTP, with sustained measures aimed at increasing pressure on the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan also internationalized cross-border security concerns by involving Qatar, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia in mediation efforts.
Domestically, Pakistan recorded notable gains in counterterrorism, expanded international cooperation against terrorism, and made progress on economic reforms despite severe financial constraints. The Diplomat identified Pakistan’s actions against extremism as a clear and renewed expression of state policy.
The magazine concluded that Pakistan has been presented with a rare opportunity to leverage favorable global conditions for long-term reform. It pointed to the planned privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) — the first major step of its kind in two decades — as a potential turning point for economic recovery.
The Diplomat’s assessment positions 2025 as a defining year in which Pakistan re-emerged as a consequential global actor — militarily credible, diplomatically relevant, and strategically recalibrated for the future.
