ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said Pakistan has emerged as “extremely relevant” on the global stage, shifting “from isolation to relevance” following the May conflict with India.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “Pakistan in the Changing World” in Islamabad.
Recalling the escalation earlier this year, Tarar noted that tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi intensified after the attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir. “India, without evidence, linked the incident to Pakistan,” he said.
Tarar stressed that Pakistan’s international image had strengthened significantly in recent months. “In a very short span of time, Pakistan has become extremely relevant globally,” he said.
“We’ve seen the past two years, and especially after the May war, I think that has redefined who we are, right after the Pahalgam incident.”
He described the “turning point” as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to offer an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
“We were often blamed for acts of terror that were not our fault,” he noted. “By offering this investigation, Pakistan made a good diplomatic move which was well received across the world.”
According to the minister, the gesture triggered “immense diplomatic engagement” at multiple levels. “The prime minister, the field marshal, and the deputy prime minister all engaged constantly, and that really helped us prove our point to the world,” he said.
Tarar reiterated that Pakistan has long been among the biggest victims of terrorism. “You can't be a victim and an aggressor at the same time. It's an oxymoron. It’s an inherent contradiction. It is not possible,” he said.
He emphasized the magnitude of national sacrifice. “No other country has sacrificed 90,000 lives in the war against terrorism,” he stated, adding that Pakistan had “lost hundreds of billions of dollars in economic losses.”
These sacrifices, he said, created a “shield wall” between terrorists and the global community. “When a Pakistani lays down his or her life, it is not only for the motherland but to make the world a safer place.”
Synergy and Gen Z
Discussing domestic unity during the conflict with India, the minister credited coordinated communication for countering misinformation. He praised the Pakistan Army’s media wing for its role, saying effective messaging “wouldn’t have been possible without the ideal synergy we created.”
Tarar also lauded Gen Z for their performance during what he described as a “meme war.”
He said, “The enemy was shocked that our youngsters, in a very serious situation, were making memes and ridiculing them in their own way.”
Pakistan’s rising global standing
Turning to foreign policy, the minister said Pakistan’s diplomacy had reached its “peak” over the past 18 months, marked by strengthened global engagement, new regional partnerships, and expanding economic cooperation.
He cited Pakistan’s role in the Gaza peace process and a series of high-level exchanges as evidence of rising international relevance.
The information minister also highlighted Islamabad’s hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government Summit for the first time in 14 years.
“Twelve prime ministers came to Islamabad for discussions on cooperation, counterterrorism, and connectivity,” he said.
Tarar announced that Pakistan will host the SCO Heads of State Summit in 2027, calling it a “major diplomatic milestone.”
He also hailed the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia as a “breakthrough” in regional relations. He recalled that during recent visits, Saudi cities displayed Pakistani flags in celebration of the partnership.
During the latest visit to Riyadh, both countries launched a new economic cooperation framework designed to support Pakistan’s economic revival. Tarar said the framework had “cemented bilateral ties” and would play a central role in Pakistan’s economic turnaround.
Concluding his remarks, Tarar said the recent period marked “unprecedented diplomatic activity” that had significantly strengthened Pakistan’s geopolitical and economic standing.
