As the world waited in anticipation and Islamabad was under siege with heightened security measures, Pakistan played a crucial role as a mediator. The prime minister and the army chief traveled between capitals, trying to build consensus and bring the parties to the negotiating table.
Although the first round of Islamabad talks in April 2026 ended without progress and the second round of talks could not take place because both Iran and the United States could not agree to reach a common ground (the United States canceled planned envoy visits and Iran showed reluctance), Islamabad nevertheless stood out as a strong diplomatic player.
Is Pakistan becoming a powerful middle power or becoming a tough state? Being a tough State with greater military power is now perhaps a necessity of time and circumstances. The world is becoming increasingly hostile and militarized. And the price of not having that hard power could be too high in the form of violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty.
During last year’s conflict with India in May 2025, Pakistan was able to defend itself thanks to the sheer power of its air force, aided by Chinese technology. The Pakistan Air Force deployed Chinese-supplied Chengdu J-10C fighters, armed with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, achieving notable successes, including shooting down Indian aircraft, including the advanced Rafales.
If he had not had this ability, he could have suffered a severe blow from his adversary. That episode served as a stark reminder: in times of crisis, deterrence backed by modern technology can preserve sovereignty when diplomacy alone is not enough.
This growing military prowess is even more evident in Pakistan’s growing defense deals and arms exports, which signal its growing influence as an arms supplier. In recent months, Pakistan has struck major deals, including a $4 billion deal with the Libyan National Army for JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and Super Mushshak trainers.
Negotiations have advanced with countries including Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Indonesia for the sale of dozens of JF-17 Block III aircraft, drones and other systems, deals potentially worth billions more.
These efforts, which build on previous exports to Azerbaijan, Myanmar and Nigeria, show how the combat-tested reputation of Pakistani weapons, developed in partnership with China, is opening new markets in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
This defense diplomacy and export push not only helps offset the high costs of maintaining a strong military but also enhances Pakistan’s influence and strategic leverage in the Global South.
The current trajectory of the world, with increasing authoritarianism and “might is right,” is one in which those with power and strength dominate the weak and vulnerable. International law is easily overlooked or violated with impunity. There is no respect for rules or principles. After all, the rules-based order was always applied selectively in the interests of Western powers.
That too is now broken. Presidents of their countries are kidnapped, leaders are assassinated through drone and missile attacks on their own homes, embargoes and sanctions are imposed, and entire populations starve. And then we have fascist regimes committing genocide with the world watching and no one to hold them accountable.
So what happens in a world like that? For countries like Pakistan, options are limited. Either you adapt and strengthen your defenses, or you prepare to be the recipient of the force. This is truly a deplorable situation.
The blind and ruthless pursuit of military power has few winners and many losers. For a country like Pakistan, maintaining the pace of an arms race is difficult to justify economically, but at the same time it seems to be the only realistic pragmatic solution. And it is deeply unfortunate that the two South Asian neighbors remain trapped in a zero-sum game of relentless persecution.
But pursuing hard power and building a truly hard state are not the same. The hard state model pursued by Pakistan is incomplete.
A tough state has a resilient economy, strong institutions, rule of law and effective governance. This is what makes a tough state efficient and internally strong. We have the example of China and Singapore: two tough states with strong and efficient systems and institutions and a robust economy.
This is the model that gives results to its citizens, even if it is based on authoritarianism. Hard states are hardly democratic, and therefore I find it difficult to be an ardent supporter of them. However, given the lack of democracy and freedom of expression, they do serve citizens through good governance and the rule of law.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is far from these traits of a tough state. The economy is under pressure and both the rule of law and governance are weak. And what is worrying is that there is a democratic retreat and a decline in civil liberties.
Unless Pakistan consolidates internally with strong institutions, a healthy economy and a system that meets the expectations of its people, it will be a tough state in name: strong externally with military prowess and diplomatic influence, but weak internally.
The author is an independent analyst based in Islamabad.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PakGazette.tv.
Originally published in The News
