Just a few months ago, Pakistan’s military faced criticism at home and abroad for losing its grip on issues of regional importance. However, a notable turnaround has unfolded in that domain in recent months.
A series of bold foreign policy moves, reinforced by the country’s four-day war with India, its stance on the Iran-Israel crisis, and an unprecedented White House meeting between Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir and U.S. President Donald Trump, seems to have revived the military’s institutional credibility and effectiveness in the foreign policy arena.
Pakistan’s military demonstrated last month, both at home and abroad, that it is a peer competitor to India’s armed forces. The four-day military exchanges between India and Pakistan exhibited the Pakistan Army’s impressive warfighting skills, primarily in the aerial battle. This display of military strength appears to have shifted the regional power balance and raised questions about India’s military capabilities in future conflicts vis-à-vis Pakistan and China.
Additionally, the four-day war seems to have given Pakistan a much-needed boost in confidence, which has injected momentum into the country’s foreign policy.
For example, when the Iran-Israel crisis broke out, Pakistan’s clear support for Iran surprised many. In Pakistan, it addressed people’s concerns that Islamabad may not actively support Iran in its fight against Israel. It is important to note that the Iran-Israel war occurred at a time when Pakistan’s powerful military is seeking to improve relations with the United States, Israel’s closest ally.
What stood out in Pakistan’s position was that it did not just make statements but was seen as assertively taking action at different key forums. Pakistan condemned Israel’s attacks at the United Nations and insisted on Iran’s right to self-defense. Furthermore, Pakistan criticized Israel’s actions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, while India abstained from participating in the discussion.
Pakistan also helped Iran organize emergency sessions of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the conflict at least twice in the last two weeks. Moreover, Pakistan condemned the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and termed the actions a violation of international law. Pakistan warned that the U.S. bombings could further destabilize the region.
For many in Pakistan and abroad, this showed that Islamabad can make neutral decisions on issues of regional and global importance that could impact its national security.
What is interesting is that Pakistan’s diplomatic stance over the Iran-Israel crisis was seen as backed by the Pakistani military. There is a consensus in Pakistan that the boldness demonstrated by the foreign office in its statements and actions vis-à-vis the Iran-Israel crisis was only possible with approval from the powerful military.
The biggest surprise regarding the Pakistani Army’s role in shaping the country’s foreign policy came in the form of Munir’s meeting with Trump at the White House. It is unprecedented for a Pakistani army chief to have that kind of access in the United States. The meeting lasted more than two hours and covered topics such as the Iran-Israel crisis, bilateral counterterrorism cooperation, and other issues.
Trump subsequently praised Munir, saying: “I met the General from Pakistan last week in my office — a very impressive personality, a great man.”
He hinted that Pakistan could assist with talks with Iran, stating that “Pakistan knows Iran better than most.”
The meeting between Pakistan’s army chief and Trump demonstrated two things. First, the world views Pakistan’s military as an important player in regional stability and in managing affairs within Pakistan. Second, Pakistan’s military continues to be perceived as powerful domestically while civilian governments seem unable to offer guarantees on foreign policy matters.
Clearly, the military’s visibly growing impact on the country’s foreign policy has domestic implications. For instance, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent admission of a “hybrid governance model” in Pakistan, where the military shares power with civilians, formalizes what was already understood about the army being the ultimate authority on national security and foreign policy in Pakistan.
In recent weeks, Pakistan’s military has skillfully transformed regional crises into opportunities to enhance its reputation as well as Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint globally. Pakistani military’s management of the recent India crisis and support for Iran demonstrated its strength, while the army chief’s meeting with Trump showcased its global significance.
However, the real test will be whether Pakistan can translate this diplomatic capital into fixing its economy and politics, which can bring lasting stability at home and abroad.