If diplomacy were a battlefield, this week Pakistan emerged not just with a victory but with the enemy’s flag draped over its shoulders.
In the ruthless theatre of global politics, where power is the currency and loyalty is a myth, Pakistan just pulled off a diplomatic heist so audacious, so strategically devastating, that even its harshest critics can only watch in stunned silence.
The world awoke to the shocking news of a historic oil partnership between the United States and Pakistan, which was made public by UA Presodent Donald J. Trump himself without following the proper procedures. In typical Trumpian fashion, he revealed the deal on Truth Social, his digital platform:
One fact dominates the rest: Pakistan participated in the game.The board was switched by Pakistan. For once, Pakistan did not flinch.History may view this period as a turning point rather than an anomaly, the instant the world recognized that Pakistan was not only playing the game but was beginning to win it
“We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves… Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India someday!”
New Delhi was cut like a scalpel by that one sentence.
Let’s first recognize the surgical accuracy of Pakistan’s diplomatic move before delving into India’s wound. Because Pakistan has accomplished something truly revolutionary here.
Indian columnist Biswanath Bhattacharya, no friend to Pakistan, put it best:
“If global politics were a high-wire act, Pakistan’s diplomatic corps would be the most nimble acrobats in the circus.”
He’s not wrong. Most countries are forced to swear allegiance to one superpower or another in a world that is becoming more and more divided due to the U.S.-China rivalry. However, Pakistan defied the winds of pressure by walking the line between the two titans with its arms outstretched, something no one else dared to do. The world watched in shock as it grasped China’s billion-dollar Belt and Road with one hand and merely shook hands with Washington with the other.
This was not a backdoor handshake or press release. It was a worldwide flex.Trump’s remarks were theatrical as well as transactional. While Delhi was being punished with a 25 percent tariff hike compared to 19 percent on Pakistani exports, he also twisted the knife by suggesting that Pakistan’s oil might one day power Indian engines, in addition to promising US investment in Pakistan’s unexplored oil reserves.
Then came the cherry on top: Trump referred to the Indian economy as “bankrupt.”
Bankrupt, indeed. in the open. from the USA. India once praised a man as an ally.
The media in India went crazy. The Bombay Stock Exchange suffered. One anxious question flooded Delhi’s elite WhatsApp groups: What just happened?
Behind the scenes, Pakistan was playing chess while India revelled in the appearance of being Washington’s “natural ally.” Pakistan has been accused of playing a “double game” for years, taking Western aid while strengthening its ties with Beijing. In 2025, however, that “double game” appears more like genius than treachery.Because Pakistan made both sides choose Pakistan while India was preoccupied with trying to choose a side.
This transaction took time to complete. It was the outcome of years of backchannel talks, tactful diplomacy, and strategic patience. Pakistan made use of its oil potential, geographic proximity, and readiness to provide both powers with regional stability. In exchange, it received international recognition, US funding, and Chinese infrastructure.Loyalty is not the goal of diplomacy. It has to do with leverage. And the cards are currently in Pakistan’s favour.
Let’s not mince words: India is in shock. Only a few months ago, New Delhi exuded the self-assurance of a well-liked child in Western society. India assumed permanence in Washington’s embrace through trade agreements, defence pacts, and G20 summits. However, international politics does not deal with permanence. It deals with usefulness. And Pakistan was much more helpful this time.
Once touted as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, India was publicly ridiculed by its purported ally and told it would face higher taxes and less trade. The consequences were immediate: The stock market fell. Analysts of trade panicked. Modi’s quiet was more telling than his words.This was a loss of face in addition to a diplomatic setback. Additionally, face is crucial in South Asia.
Oil is at the center of this drama.Legends of riches hidden beneath the Arabian Sea surrounded Pakistan’s offshore reserves for many years. However, the legend is now getting closer to reality thanks to US technology and funding. According to local and international media, Pakistan might have the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil reserves.
This is groundbreaking if it’s true.
Instead of being a struggling importer, Pakistan might turn into an energy exporter, a regional power broker, and a vital supplier in the energy void left by Russia. What’s the best part? The tools to unlock it are coming from the West, not China. Consider the following headline: “Pakistan Powers Up: From Load Shedding to Load Leader.” That is no longer fantasy. It’s a tactic. And it’s functioning.
Don’t let anyone call this luck.Years of purposeful work have led to this moment. It is the outcome of a foreign policy apparatus that has come out stronger, more resilient, and more defiant than ever after enduring sanctions, betrayals, and international suspicion.
The world changed, so Pakistan lost this round.Since it was the first to change, it prevailed.Others followed outdated guidelines, such as “wait your turn,” “pick a side,” and “stay loyal,” but Pakistan changed the rules. It placed a wager on ambition, ambiguity, and fluidity. And it was accurate.
However, this oil collaboration is not a singular success; rather, it is the most recent in a series of diplomatic triumphs that signal Pakistan’s comeback to the international scene in 2025.
Pakistan and Turkey finalized a defence cooperation framework earlier this year, strengthening strategic ties through drone technology transfers and joint military drills. With the signing of a historic labour mobility agreement with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Pakistan paved the way for thousands of skilled workers to enter the Gulf with improved pay and benefits.
Pakistan strengthened its position as a key hub in Eurasian trade and increased regional connectivity by securing Kazakhstan’s commitment to a direct energy corridor at the SCO summit in Astana.In an unexpected but astute move, Pakistan also started climate cooperation negotiations with the EU, establishing itself as a future leader in green innovation as well as a direct victim of climate change. Every agreement, handshake, and well-crafted joint statement has contributed to Pakistan’s growing diplomatic empire.
This week’s drama has a deeper meaning than just tariffs and oil.
It has to do with reality.Ideological alliances are obsolete. The modern world relies heavily on transactional diplomacy, and Pakistan is an expert at exchanging currencies.
The friend of today becomes the burden of tomorrow. Tomorrow’s partner is today’s pariah. Pakistan quietly smiles from the high wire, unfazed, unshaken, and, for the time being, uncontested, while India learns this the hard way.
This is more than just a win. It’s a declaration. A roar. Just a friendly reminder.
that Pakistan is a player and not a pawn and that this nation is essential and not isolated. It is now necessary for those who misjudged this country to recalculate and recalibrate.The entire world is watching Pakistan. Many are afraid, some are envious, and some watch with admiration. But everyone is observing.
And as the dust settles and the flags fly, one fact dominates the rest: Pakistan participated in the game.The board was switched by Pakistan. For once, Pakistan did not flinch.History may view this period as a turning point rather than an anomaly, the instant the world recognized that Pakistan was not only playing the game but was beginning to win it.
