Islamabad/New Delhi, May 30, 2026: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decade-long effort to diplomatically isolate Pakistan has failed, according to a report by Al Jazeera, which cited analysts as saying that Islamabad has successfully positioned itself as an important diplomatic and strategic partner for major global and regional powers.
The assessment comes nearly a decade after Modi vowed to isolate Pakistan following a 2016 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Addressing a public rally in Kerala at the time, the Indian premier pledged to intensify efforts to ensure Pakistan remained isolated on the global stage.
However, analysts quoted in the report argued that Pakistan today appears far from isolated. The country maintains a close strategic partnership with China and has also strengthened ties with the United States under President Donald Trump.
Over the past year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir both met Trump at the White House, while Pakistan also played a significant role in diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Tehran.
“In part, say analysts, that’s a reflection of Pakistan’s success in wooing Trump, and in capitalising on key geopolitical events to make itself an important diplomatic player for superpowers and regional players alike,” the report noted.
Impact of the 2025 conflict
Pakistan-India relations have remained strained in recent years, with formal diplomatic engagement largely stalled. The two neighbours also experienced a brief military conflict in May 2025.
According to Pakistani claims cited in the report, Pakistan shot down multiple Indian military aircraft and drones during the 87-hour confrontation. The conflict ended on May 10 after a ceasefire agreement reportedly facilitated by the United States.
While New Delhi maintained that the ceasefire resulted from direct bilateral engagement, Trump repeatedly stated that Washington helped broker the truce and prevented a potentially dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The US president also offered to assist in finding a solution to the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which has shaped relations between Pakistan and India since 1947.
The report said Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire and has publicly stated that Indian fighter jets were shot down during the conflict, assertions that analysts believe strengthened Pakistan’s narrative internationally.
Analysts further argued that India struggled to convince the international community of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the incident that triggered the 2025 conflict. Some observers also suggested that Modi’s reluctance to publicly acknowledge Trump’s role in securing the ceasefire contributed to friction in US-India relations.
Pakistan, meanwhile, openly welcomed Trump’s mediation efforts and later nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Expanding regional influence
The report also highlighted Pakistan’s improving diplomatic relations with Bangladesh following political changes in Dhaka after the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China was also underscored during the 2025 conflict, with Islamabad reportedly relying on Chinese defence technologies and military equipment.
According to the report, India’s increasingly close relationship with Israel under Modi has complicated its standing among some Gulf states. At the same time, Pakistan has expanded its security and strategic partnerships with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The report noted that amid growing regional instability in the Middle East, Gulf countries have increasingly sought to diversify their security partnerships beyond traditional arrangements.
In September 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement, while reports suggested that other Gulf states and Türkiye could consider joining similar security frameworks.
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera concluded that the 2025 conflict further enhanced Pakistan’s reputation as a credible security partner, contributing to increased international interest in Pakistani defence capabilities and military cooperation.
