The Core of Being Pakistani: Faith, Resilience, and Diplomatic Brilliance

A few days ago, I had a striking conversation with a Pakistan Air Force captain during the IDEF 2025 defense fair in Türkiye. We discussed at length the recent Pakistan-India war from technical maneuvers to strategic decisions but what stayed with me was how he ended our talk: “Everything was from Allah Almighty; He protected us and gave us victory.” That one line, in its simplicity, reflected the very core of being Pakistani.

Pakistanis possess a rare and unwavering trust in divine will. This trust does not translate into inaction, but rather into courage and calm in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s this very faith that has enabled Pakistan, time and again, to confront and overcome adversaries larger in size and stronger in numbers.

This spiritual resilience is not limited to our armed forces, it is deeply embedded in our diplomacy as well. Take, for instance, the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confidently stated that India stood isolated, with all member states including Pakistan agreeing on one declaration while India stood in opposition. Not a single country supported India. It was a quiet yet profound diplomatic victory for Pakistan.

In another major win, the Government of Pakistan succeeded in direct negotiations with the United States, convincing the Trump administration to cut the reciprocal tariff rate on Pakistani goods from 29% to 19%. Few countries can claim to have successfully negotiated such a deal while simultaneously maintaining strategic ties with both the U.S. and China.

This dual alignment operating Chinese and American defense equipment in an integrated system is nothing short of a geopolitical miracle. Even as the world becomes increasingly polarized, Pakistan continues to walk the tightrope of global diplomacy with confidence and precision. Whether it’s strengthening ties with Muslim countries, offering political support to Iran during Iran-Israel crises, or actively participating in Turkic cooperation while keeping doors open to Europe, Pakistan has shown it understands the art of balance.

Our diplomats are doing what many thought impossible: keeping the country’s strategic autonomy intact in a divided world. Recent acknowledgments like Iran publicly thanking Pakistan for its role in the ceasefire efforts are evidence of a diplomatic apparatus that is effective, agile, and deeply respected.

The world may often underestimate Pakistan. But those who truly understand this nation know one thing: Pakistan’s strength lies not just in its military or economy, but in its faith, unity, and ability to act with both conviction and grace. There’s a lot the world can learn from Pakistan especially mastering the fine balance in an increasingly fractured world.