Washington (TDI): Pakistan has gained heightened international recognition following its military success in the brief but intense conflict with India in May 2025, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said, describing the past year as a turning point for the country’s global standing.
Speaking about Pakistan’s evolving international role, the ambassador said the country continues to be viewed as a responsible stakeholder in global security and regional stability. He noted that Pakistan’s performance during the crisis underscored its ability to act decisively in a sensitive geopolitical environment.
Sheikh said relations between Pakistan and the United States showed clear improvement over the past year, calling the progress both significant and encouraging. He credited Pakistan’s leadership and diplomatic strategy for strengthening the country’s position abroad and improving engagement with Washington.
“Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach in the United States has been effective and will continue to deepen in the period ahead,” the envoy said, expressing optimism as both countries enter the new year.
The conflict erupted in May after India carried out strikes on Pakistan following a deadly attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack that killed 26 people, an allegation Islamabad strongly denied while offering to participate in a neutral international investigation.
Read More:Â Pakistan Offers Compelling Business Opportunities for US Entrepreneurs: Ambassador Rizwan
During the 87-hour confrontation, Pakistan downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, as well as dozens of drones. The fighting ended on May 10 after a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Sheikh said the events of the past year had instilled a renewed sense of pride among overseas Pakistanis, many of whom now feel more confident about Pakistan’s place on the world stage.
He added that Pakistan’s media and diplomatic corps worked in close coordination during the crisis to safeguard national interests. “The nation demonstrated through its actions that it can stand firm and act responsibly in a volatile region,” he said.
On bilateral relations, the ambassador noted that sustained engagement between Pakistan’s leadership and US officials had yielded tangible results. Pakistan-US cooperation, he said, is now being noticed more widely and remains essential in the current global environment.
Sheikh highlighted expanding economic engagement with the current US administration, with cooperation growing in sectors such as minerals, energy, information technology, health, education, and counterterrorism. He pointed out that Pakistani youth, particularly in the IT sector, are increasingly gaining recognition in international markets.
Read More:Â Ambassador Rizwan Meets Pakistani Entrepreneurs of US Professional Fellows Program
He said Pakistan’s foreign policy focus has shifted from geopolitics toward geoeconomics, a transition that is beginning to deliver measurable outcomes. Trade in goods between Pakistan and the US increased by 16.3%, while Pakistani exports rose 11.5%. Services trade surged 39.7%, and remittances grew by 5.4%.
The envoy added that Pakistan successfully protected its competitive interests during tariff-related discussions and that stronger engagement with individual US states was opening new economic opportunities. He said bilateral relations are now being managed in a more structured and institutional manner to support long-term cooperation.
