“I would not be here without his statesmanship. He is a great military leader, but I think he has shown himself to be a great diplomat,” said US vice-president JD Vance, praising Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire after months of war. Pakistan played a key role in the negotiations that led to the agreement.

There has been an unmistakable turnaround in Pakistan’s geopolitical fortunes. In 2022, when Munir became the chief of army staff, the country was in a troubled state. Its economy was teetering on default, former Prime Minister Imran Khan was challenging the political power of the military with mass and intra-army support, insurgent violence was at its peak, relations with the Afghan Taliban had deteriorated, India was unwilling to transform the 2021 ceasefire into a comprehensive dialogue, China was supportive but unhappy with the targeting of its citizens, and the Joe Biden administration was deliberately ignoring Islamabad. Unsurprisingly, Munir was internally focussed, stiff-bodied, and inscrutable. In 2026, both the country and the man are more confident.

Also read: 'On Mossad's Munir assassination plan, Pak said will wipe Israel off map': Journo's wild claim rejected

There is concern in India about the strategic implications of Pakistan’s comeback, and debate about how to respond to this moment of déjà vu. From renewed calls for dialogue to reports about Track-1.5 dialogues, there has been a sense of “movement” that obscures more than it illuminates. This moment demands an assessment of Pakistan on its own merit. It requires one to attempt and see Pakistan from........

© hindustantimes