Pakistan ends 2025 not as a state reacting to events, but as a state increasingly shaping them.
ISLAMABAD:
Few could have predicted at the start of 2025 that Pakistan’s foreign policy would end the year on such a radically different footing.
Long seen as a country struggling with diplomatic isolation, economic fragility and regional pressure, Pakistan closed out 2025 having re-established its strategic relevance in several theaters.
At the heart of this shift is an unprecedented turnaround in Pakistan-US relations, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a development that has reshaped Islamabad’s global standing and triggered a broader recalibration of its external engagements.
The most notable foreign policy development of 2025 was the rapid and largely unexpected improvement in Pakistani and US relations. Contrary to widely held expectations of indifference or further friction, President Trump took a distinctly positive and transactional approach toward Pakistan soon after taking office.
In multiple public statements, Trump has openly praised Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, recognizing the country’s role in regional security and the fight against terrorism. The turning point in the relationship was the capture of one of the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021.
The ISIS terrorist’s capture and extradition prompted Trump to openly praise Pakistan in his first speech to Congress. This anti-terrorist cooperation has relaunched channels of communication between the two countries which were practically non-existent under the mandate of Joe Biden.
Such direct praise from a US president, especially one known for his heavy-handed diplomacy, was unprecedented in recent history and sent a strong signal to the political establishment in Washington.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic and military channels were reactivated at high speed. High-level engagements resumed, intelligence cooperation deepened, and Pakistan was increasingly described by U.S. officials as a “reliable regional partner” rather than a problematic ally of the past.
The focus of engagement has expanded beyond Afghanistan, encompassing South Asian stability, Middle East security and counter-terrorism cooperation. Trump’s worldview, driven less by ideology and more by immediate strategic utility, has worked to Pakistan’s advantage.
Islamabad has positioned itself as an internet security provider in a volatile region, offering cooperation without seeking the kind of alliance commitments that had complicated ties in previous decades. By the end of 2025, Pakistani and American relations were not only stabilized; they have been significantly redefined.
The Four Day War and its consequences
If the US reset marked a diplomatic breakthrough, the four-day war between India and Pakistan in May became a turning point in Pakistan’s regional position. The brief but intense military confrontation brought South Asia dangerously close to escalation, once again drawing global attention to the region’s volatility.
Pakistan’s response, combining military preparedness and skillful diplomacy, was quietly recognized by major international capitals.
After the Pahalgam attack in April, with India threatening to carry out cross-border strikes, the outside world was wary of Pakistan’s ability to ward off, let alone inflict damage on India. But when India launched missile strikes deep into Pakistan, Islamabad’s response surprised not only New Delhi but also world capitals. Pakistan has shot down at least seven Indian fighter jets, including four highly sophisticated French-made Rafales.
While the conflict has highlighted the continuing hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, it has also changed perceptions. Pakistan was not seen as an instigator but as a state capable of defending its interests, while avoiding uncontrolled escalation.
The post-war diplomatic phase proved equally important. Islamabad’s engagement with major powers, including the United States, China, the Gulf states and its European partners, reinforced the message that Pakistan remained indispensable to regional stability.
In contrast, concerns have grown internationally over India’s increasingly assertive posture under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly its willingness to test military thresholds.
A growing geostrategic profile
As a result of the Pakistan-India confrontation, Pakistan’s geostrategic profile has risen sharply. Regional and extra-regional actors have begun to reassess Pakistan’s role not only as a South Asian actor but also as a bridge between South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia.
This recalibration resulted in tangible diplomatic gains. Pakistan has intensified its strategic coordination with its key partners in the Middle East, positioning itself as a stabilizing force amid the ongoing unrest in Gaza, the Red Sea and the broader Gulf region.
Islamabad has played an active diplomatic role in discussions around a Gaza peace framework, leveraging its credibility with Western and Muslim-majority states. While the conflict itself remains unresolved, Pakistan’s engagement has elevated its position as a responsible voice for a ceasefire, humanitarian access and a political path forward.
Deepening ties with the Gulf States.
One of the most important outcomes of Pakistan’s increased strategic relevance was the signing of a defense pact with Saudi Arabia in 2025. Beyond Riyadh, Pakistan strengthened its ties with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, strengthening its role as a reliable security partner rather than a partisan player in Middle East rivalries.
These relations were underpinned by Pakistan’s concern for balance. For Pakistan, this engagement in the Gulf has brought both strategic and economic dividends, strengthening its position at a time when security dynamics in the Middle East increasingly intersect with global competition for power.
China: continuity and consolidation
While Pakistan’s relations with the United States have dominated headlines, its strategic partnership with China has continued to deepen steadily in 2025. High-level political and military exchanges have remained frequent, reflecting mutual trust and long-term alignment.
Progress under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continued, with a renewed emphasis on industrial cooperation, energy security and technology. Both sides worked to address previous implementation challenges, signaling a shift from big announcements to consolidation and implementation.
Importantly, Pakistan has managed to improve ties with Washington without compromising its partnership with Beijing, an increasingly rare diplomatic balancing act in an era of great-power rivalry.
Growing engagement with Russia
Pakistan’s relations with Russia also gained momentum in 2025. High-level visits, defense consultations and energy discussions have underlined Islamabad’s desire to diversify its strategic relations.
Although Pakistan-Russia ties remain limited compared to traditional partnerships, the consistency of high-level engagement has marked a shift from episodic contacts to structured dialogue. In a multipolar world, Islamabad is increasingly positioning itself as a flexible actor open to cooperation beyond geopolitical borders.
The Afghan challenge: a persistent low point
Despite these achievements, the year 2025 has also highlighted the limits of Pakistan’s foreign policy success, particularly in its deteriorating relations with Afghanistan. Rather than stabilizing, ties with Kabul deteriorated significantly over the year.
Islamabad’s main concern – the presence of militant groups operating from Afghan soil – remains unresolved, while diplomatic engagement has yielded little progress. Border tensions, mutual accusations and the absence of effective communication mechanisms have reinforced distrust.
Unlike other fronts on which Pakistan has managed recalibration and engagement, Afghanistan has remained a source of strategic frustration, underscoring the complexity of the post-withdrawal regional landscape.
A year of strategic recovery
As 2025 draws to a close, Pakistan’s foreign policy record reflects a year of strategic recovery rather than radical transformation. The unprecedented improvement in Pakistan-US relations under President Trump, the post-war recalibration of regional perceptions, growing engagement in the Middle East, and enduring partnerships with China and Russia have collectively restored Pakistan’s relevance on the global stage.
Challenges persist, particularly on the western border, but the broader trajectory suggests a country that has learned to leverage its geography, security capabilities and diplomacy more effectively.
In a turbulent international environment, Pakistan ended 2025 not as a state reacting to events, but as one increasingly shaping them. The sustainability of this dynamic until 2026 will depend on internal stability and the ability to convert strategic relevance into long-term economic and political gains.
