The remarks by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore are significant not merely because of the praise they contain, but what they reveal about Pakistan’s evolving place in global diplomacy.
Describing Pakistan as a true friend and commending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in efforts aimed at reviving dialogue between Washington and Tehran, Hegseth’s words reflect a growing international recognition of Pakistan’s diplomatic relevance and constructive engagement in regional affairs.
Indeed, Pakistan has emerged as an important diplomatic actor capable of contributing to peace and conflict resolution. This is the success of a foreign policy approach rooted in pragmatism, strategic balance and constructive engagement. Credit goes to our civilian and military leadership, whose vision and foresight helped reposition the country as a responsible stakeholder in regional peace and stability. Pakistan’s relationship with the US has never been a straightforward one. Over the decades, it has witnessed periods of close cooperation followed by phases of mistrust and divergence. For a long time, Washington largely viewed Pakistan through the prism of Afghanistan and broader security challenges associated with that conflict and as circumstances changed, so too dynamics of the bilateral relationship. Today, however, there are encouraging signs that ties between Islamabad and Washington are moving in a more positive direction. Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, engagement between the two countries has visibly increased. More importantly, there appears to be a greater appreciation in Washington of Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability, facilitating dialogue and preventing conflicts from escalating into wider crises. Such recognition is not earned overnight, it is product of consistent diplomatic effort and a willingness to contribute constructively to international peace initiatives.
These developments are also noteworthy when viewed against the backdrop of India’s long-standing campaign to isolate Pakistan diplomatically. As highlighted in a recent Al Jazeera report, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly pledged nearly a decade ago to ensure Pakistan’s isolation on the world stage. Yet the reality today tells a very different story. Far from being isolated, Pakistan maintains strong strategic ties with China, enjoys cordial relations with key Gulf states, has witnessed a significant warming of ties with Bangladesh, and is increasingly engaging with the United States. The country has positioned itself as a diplomatic interlocutor capable of maintaining productive relationships with both global powers and regional actors. This ability to engage across geopolitical divides is perhaps one of Pakistan’s greatest diplomatic strengths in an increasingly polarised world. This is, without question, a great moment for the nation. Yet diplomatic success, important as it is, cannot be viewed as an end in itself. The real challenge lies in converting this growing international goodwill into tangible economic gains. Stronger political and strategic ties must be accompanied by increased trade, investment, technology partnerships and economic cooperation with friendly countries, whether the United States, Gulf nations, China, Türkiye or others.
Our greatest national objective must now be economic strength. Diplomatic influence is most durable when supported by a robust and resilient economy. If the country succeeds in attracting greater foreign investment, expanding exports, strengthening industrial capacity and reducing its dependence on external borrowing, it can emerge not only as a respected diplomatic actor but also as a confident and economically self-reliant regional power. The current trajectory suggests that our civilian and military leadership understands the importance of linking diplomatic achievements with economic advancement. The goodwill generated through successful diplomacy creates opportunities that must now be seized through sound economic planning, institutional reforms and investor-friendly policies.
