In the aftermath of Pakistan’s swift and precise response to Indian aggression on 7 May 2025, the country has demonstrated remarkable agility on the diplomatic front. Pakistan has emerged as an important actor in international diplomacy, transforming post-conflict momentum into a series of diplomatic victories.
Pakistan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025–2026 term, securing an overwhelming 182 out of 193 votes. This achievement, despite sustained regional hostility, signals a decisive shift in Pakistan’s global stature. In addition, Islamabad has been appointed vice chair of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Committee and now leads the key sanctions committee on the Taliban. These prestigious roles recognise Pakistan’s principled commitment to peace and security and mark its elevation as a credible, multilateral voice in shaping the global order.
In the wake of unprovoked Indian aggression, recognising the urgency of global perception, Pakistan dispatched a high-powered diplomatic delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The delegation included veteran politicians Hina Rabbani Khar, Musadik Malik, Sherry Rehman, and Khurram Dastgir, and seasoned diplomats Tehmina Janjua and Jalil Abbas Jilani. Bushra Anjum Butt and Faisal Sabzwari were also part of Pakistan’s effort to present its case to the world.
The team engaged key stakeholders in Washington, DC, the UN Headquarters in New York, and London, within days of the conflict, effectively countering Indian propaganda. In meetings with the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the British House of Commons, and UN Security Council members, Pakistan exposed India’s unprovoked aggression, violations of international law, and reckless nuclear rhetoric, including a fabricated missile launch claim, later debunked by independent satellite evidence.
Despite repeated misinformation campaigns from Indian officials and media, including exaggerated claims of Pakistani airbase destruction and false territorial gains, Pakistan’s data-backed, media-savvy rebuttals quickly dismantled the disinformation.
At the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Human Rights Council, and through major global media channels including CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera, Bilawal Bhutto, Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, and others presented Pakistan’s position with clarity and confidence. They underscored Pakistan’s right to self-defence, its adherence to humanitarian law, and the ongoing human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which intensified during the crisis.
Engagements with human rights watchdogs and Western think tanks helped further expose India’s violations, drawing concern from several European and Nordic governments.
In an unprecedented diplomatic gesture, US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for a high-level luncheon at the White House. The event served as a symbolic endorsement of Pakistan’s professionalism and restraint during Operation Sindoor. President Trump praised Field Marshal Munir’s leadership and crisis management, saying, “It is an honour for me to meet Asim Munir. I invited him to thank him for not going to war.” Emphasising the nuclear status of both India and Pakistan, Trump noted ongoing trade discussions with Islamabad and commended Pakistan’s leadership.
Pakistan’s diplomacy post-Operation Sindoor has re-energised its global image. The Global South, particularly African and Southeast Asian nations, have expressed admiration for Pakistan’s balanced, peace-focused foreign policy.
Amid the June 2025 Iran-Israel escalation, Pakistan assumed a vital mediatory role, leveraging its historic ties with Tehran and rising diplomatic stature. Engaging Qatar, Turkey, and China, Islamabad urged restraint to avert regional spillover. Coordinating intelligence sharing, humanitarian evacuations, and strategic messaging, Pakistan played a key part in de-escalation. Its support for a ceasefire through the OIC further underscored its emerging role as a regional stabiliser.
At the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Session in Istanbul (21–22 June 2025), Pakistan’s rising diplomatic stature was on full display. The Istanbul Declaration, shaped significantly by Pakistan, strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and recent strikes on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Pakistan’s call for a permanent ceasefire under UNSC Resolution 2735 and support for the Palestinian government gained full OIC endorsement. The session also approved Pakistan’s proposal to form a Ministerial Contact Group for regional de-escalation. In a powerful gesture of solidarity, the OIC condemned India’s strikes on Pakistani territory and lauded Islamabad’s restraint following the 10 May ceasefire. The declaration reflected Pakistan’s growing diplomatic maturity, moral leadership, and relevance in a shifting geopolitical order.
Earlier, at the OIC emergency summit in Riyadh, Pakistan had already cemented its image as a unifying force in the Muslim world. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir emphasised the importance of regional solidarity in turbulent times, while Bilawal Bhutto proposed a collective economic and defence framework under an OIC Security Dialogue Forum.
Pakistan’s proposals, supported by member states from the Gulf, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, led to the establishment of the OIC Conflict Mediation Council, chaired by Pakistan for its inaugural term — a significant diplomatic achievement.
Advancing its regional engagement in May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visits to Türkiye and Azerbaijan signalled a clear shift toward deeper economic diplomacy. In Türkiye, his warm interaction with President Erdoğan resulted in key agreements on defence, trade, and food security. In Baku, Pakistan and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their strategic partnership, with Shehbaz Sharif expressing gratitude for President Aliyev’s unwavering support during the recent Pak-India conflict. He also extended heartfelt Eid-ul-Adha greetings to President Aliyev and the brotherly people of Kazakhstan during a separate telephonic exchange. President Aliyev expressed his intent to visit Pakistan by year’s end, with both leaders expected to meet again at the upcoming ECO and SCO Summits. These high-level engagements highlight Pakistan’s growing focus on regional integration across Central Asia and Eurasia.
Pakistan’s diplomacy post-Operation Sindoor has re-energised its global image. The Global South, particularly African and Southeast Asian nations, has expressed admiration for Pakistan’s balanced, peace-focused foreign policy. Furthermore, Pakistan’s push for UN Security Council reform to include more Muslim and underrepresented nations has gained renewed traction. The Pakistani diaspora across the West also played a crucial role in lobbying for Pakistan’s positions, organising peaceful protests and academic conferences to counter propaganda and promote Islamabad’s peace narrative.
Pakistan has capitalised on its post-conflict momentum to expand strategic partnerships. Dialogues with China, Russia, Turkey, and Central Asian states have led to agreements on military exercises, counterterrorism cooperation, and further infrastructure investment under CPEC Phase 2.
Defence analysts observed that Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos showcased Pakistan’s technological edge in air defence and electronic warfare, cementing its status as a competent regional military force with strategic maturity.
Despite being a sovereign state that maintains constructive ties with global powers, including receiving commendations from President Trump and the White House hosting a formal luncheon in honour of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan has upheld its principled foreign policy stance. Islamabad unequivocally condemned the recent illegal airstrikes carried out by the United States on three sites in Iran, deeming them a blatant violation of the UN Charter.
The events following India’s botched Operation Sindoor have demonstrated that Pakistan knows how to combine military precision with diplomatic finesse. Islamabad has proven that it is no longer merely responding to crises but shaping regional and international outcomes.
From Washington to Istanbul, from Ankara to Tehran, Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy has redefined its identity, not as a security-obsessed nation, but as a mature, peace-driven, and geopolitically relevant actor in an increasingly multipolar world.
The writer, who holds an MPhil in English Literature, is an educationist and youth activist affiliated with the PML-N.
