Resurgence of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy:
Achievements, Challenges & Unfinished Business
Written By: Bakhtawar Iftakhar Mehdi
As one reflects back on the year 2025, Pakistan’s foreign policy appears to have gained footing. Some analysts state that developments this year reinjected positive energy into the way Pakistan is perceived globally. The evidence cited in favour of that statement refers to several factors: the “Six-Nil” moment in the May 2025 conflict against a much larger adversary, rewarming of ties with the US, signing of a defence pact with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reinvigorating Pak-China relations and CPEC, and a seat at the table in Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan. Surely, these are positive developments prima facie.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether these gains shall be sustained or wither away in the face of governance issues at home. Momentary gains from geopolitical currents are like castles in the sand; for a true foreign policy resurgence, a stronger foundation is needed at home. The intention of this sobering reminder is not to fuel pessimism, but to be cautious in our optimism instead. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to actually materialise the gains beyond rhetoric and headlines, and effectively execute sound policy. It is crucial not only to make sound promises but also to deliver tangibly thereafter on whatever is promised. Momentary relevance is no substitute for sustained credibility. So perhaps it would be better to gauge success on a case-by-case basis.
The Actual Standards of Judgement for Foreign Policy Success
Official Foreign Policy Objectives of Pakistan
✓ Promotion of Pakistan as a dynamic, progressive, moderate, and democratic Islamic country.
✓ Developing friendly relations with all countries of the world, especially major powers and immediate neighbours.
✓ Safeguarding national security and geo-strategic interests, including Kashmir.
✓ Consolidating our commercial and economic cooperation with the international community.
✓ Safeguarding the interests of Pakistani diaspora abroad.
✓ Ensuring optimal utilisation of national resources for regional and international cooperation.
As per the Constitution of Pakistan
“The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity, support the common interests of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America, promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.”
Article 40, Constitution of Pakistan
As per Quaid’s Vision
“Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the world. We do not cherish aggressive designs against any country or nation. We believe in the principle of honesty and fair play in national and international dealings and are prepared to make our utmost contribution to the promotion of peace and prosperity among the nations of the world. Pakistan will never be found lacking in extending its material and moral support to the oppressed and suppressed peoples of the world, and in upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
Quaid-e-Azam, February 1948
On India: May’s Military Success Turns into Diplomatic Strength
Since Pakistan gained the upper hand militarily in May 2025, it was able to assert itself diplomatically from a position of strength thereafter. The first-ever jet-era dogfight between two nuclear-armed states on May 7, 2025, saw more than 40 Pakistani jets, including JF-17s, J-10Cs, and F-16s, face off against over 80 Indian aircraft, including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, and MiG-29s. The joint briefing by military personnel afterwards popularised the term “Six-Nil,” denoting the downing of six aircraft, which included three Rafales, a Su-30, a Mirage 2000, a MiG-29, and a Heron UAV. The downing of French Rafales sent shockwaves in defence circles, significantly boosting the stature of the Pakistan Air Force. In turn, the Indian hubris of expensive defence purchases turned to dust. Additionally, the hype around India’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defence system, which cost USD 1.5 billion, was also punctured.
Even in general, Pakistan has numerous diplomatic wins against the aggressive designs of its neighbour, India. In the recent year, these include the successful thwarting of Indian state-launched propaganda to associate terrorism with Pakistan. In the aftermath of the May standoff, Pakistan sent “Peace Delegations” aiming to highlight “Pakistan’s peaceful and measured response to Indian aggression and to reaffirm the country’s commitment to dialogue, international law, and regional stability.” Delegates met ambassadors of P5 states, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly, OIC members, among others. Their stance remained centred on peace advocacy, internationalising the Kashmir humanitarian crisis, and calling for comprehensive talks. Unfortunately, India has not responded favourably to Pakistan’s calls for the resumption of the Composite Dialogue.
On Pakistan’s Recent Relevance in Washington: Crypto, Critical Minerals and Counter-Terrorism
It seems to be an established fact that Pak-US relations remain transactional and based on expediency. From the promises of exploring crypto partnerships to the latest round of the US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad on August 12, 2025, currently, the primary areas of Pak-US engagement are the three Cs: crypto, critical minerals, and counter-terrorism, with varying levels of progress in each area. Still, the rewarming of relations with the United States appears to have put Pakistan back on the map of geopolitical relevance.
“Make hay while the sun shines,” remarked Daniel Runde, Senior Advisor to the President at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, DC. Though he was speaking in his personal capacity, his advice to policymakers insisted on capitalising on the current momentum built under the Trump administration and exclusively doubling down on minerals. In the context of the $500 million investment framework, the first shipment of critical minerals has already been sent, containing antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements, including neodymium and praseodymium.
On China: Defence and CPEC
Directly responding to Mr. Daniel Runde, Victor Gao of China commented that “all-weather” Pak-China relations were not limited to days of sunshine, to the amusement of much of the audience at Margalla Dialogue 2025. Our Chinese brethren seem to be happy, as China’s J-10C fighter jets in the hands of the Pakistan Air Force boosted the reputation of Chinese defence equipment in terms of effectiveness as well as cost. Again, while this is a positive development on the defence front, there is a need to make up for lost time after CPEC slowed down in previous years. The actual fruits of countless Memorandums of Understanding remain to be seen depending on how CPEC 2.0 unfolds.
Diplomatic Capital in the Middle East
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SDMA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025 marks another success in Pakistan’s foreign policy. This agreement further solidifies the long-standing defence cooperation between the two nations. Additionally, its positive reception by Iran suggests that Pakistan is effectively managing its foreign relations without aligning itself with any regional or global bloc. The agreement strengthens Pakistan’s strategic influence and bolsters its position within the Muslim world.
Beyond Big Powers: A Commendable Commitment to Multilateralism and Preservation of International Norms
For now, Pakistan seems to be faring well with both big powers. Additionally, it has been leveraging its diplomatic capital elsewhere as well. By the standards stated earlier, the Foreign Office indeed deserves appreciation for institutional continuity and commitment to the Kashmir cause, as well as the two-state solution for the Palestine issue. It has continually advocated for peace within the region and abroad.
The Foreign Office is utilising multilateral fora to rally support against rogue behaviour of states like Israel and India. From supporting peace through de-escalation efforts in the multiple conflicts in 2025 to pressing for counterterrorism compliance after Pakistan assumed the UNSC’s 1988 Sanctions Committee chair, the Foreign Office’s commitment to multilateralism and preservation of international norms is commendable.
Still a Long Way to Go: Reflections on Hasty Generalisations
It is important to note that while the foreign policy of a nation-state is predominantly based on how its external relations are conducted, it cannot be confined to just that aspect. Another metric, for example, is Pakistan’s global ranking on the Henley Passport Index. In the latest global ranking issued on October 7, Pakistan’s travel document was placed at 103 in the list—tied with Yemen—and ranked higher than only those of Iraq at 104, Syria at 105, and Afghanistan at 106.
This surely is an indicator of Pakistan’s international standing and a sobering reminder that more needs to be done, and differently. It would be utopic to assume that there will ever be perfect stability at home or a “perfect” foreign policy environment, given the variety of internal and external variables involved. Even in a hypothetical instance where all internal stability factors were accounted for, malicious actors like the TTP and Modi’s India in the neighbourhood shall impede the quest for peace.
In that context, perhaps the true measure of success lies in the effort itself. Ultimately, foreign policy progress is a continuous effort intertwined with internal reforms. With cautious optimism, Pakistan must persistently strive to enhance its global standing, creating a more secure and prosperous future for itself and future generations, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and resilience.