Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday welcomed a report by the US magazine Foreign Policy describing Pakistan as a diplomatic “winner” under President Donald Trump’s new foreign policy, saying it reflected the growing global acceptance of Islamabad’s stance.

Speaking to Aaj News, Asif said the world today stood with Pakistan, and the impact of its foreign policy was clearly visible, calling it a major national success.

He said recognition by a credible international publication underscored the positive effects of Pakistan’s diplomacy at the global level.

Asif said Pakistan’s foreign policy footprint was increasingly evident in Washington, describing the shift as a significant breakthrough for Islamabad. He added that Pakistan was now being acknowledged as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism.

Referring to regional dynamics, the defence minister said Pakistan had demonstrated its military strength against a country “five times its size,” a reality he said had been acknowledged by the United States and other countries.

He added that the international community was also supporting Pakistan’s position on terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, terming it an important diplomatic development.

Asif said both political and military leadership were determined to steer the country out of challenges, adding that close coordination between the two had resulted in major gains for Pakistan in 2025.

He said the nation should appreciate the role of both leaderships in achieving these successes.

The Foreign Policy report, published in the context of President Trump’s revised foreign policy, described Pakistan as a “winner” while labelling India a “loser.”

According to the magazine, Pakistan has reshaped the region’s diplomatic landscape, with the balance in Washington tilting in its favour.

The report cited President Trump’s personal rapport with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as a key factor behind the diplomatic shift.

It said Field Marshal Munir’s leadership laid the foundation for a new phase in Pakistan-US relations, enabling Pakistan to emerge as a key US partner and secure a position that even some long-standing American allies had failed to attain.