At the 2025 SCO Summit, India Demonstrates How Visionary Diplomacy, Strategic Symbolism, and Economic Leadership Can Elevate a Nation’s Global Standing Lessons That Pakistan, Under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Cannot Afford to Ignore if It Hopes to Move Beyond Marginalization and Claim a Credible Role on the International Stage.
Tianjin: The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin has once again highlighted the stark contrast between India’s confident, strategic global posture and Pakistan’s faltering, reactive diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s deft navigation of the summit from bilateral meetings with global powerhouses to symbolic gestures of statecraft offers a blueprint for what Pakistan, and specifically Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, could learn if the nation hopes to transition from regional marginalization to credible global engagement.
Diplomacy Built on Substance, Not Empty Rhetoric
Modi’s visit to China the first in seven years demonstrated that diplomacy grounded in domestic credibility carries far more weight than ceremonial or reactive posturing. Linking India’s domestic “reform, perform, transform” agenda to its international engagements, Modi projected a nation whose internal governance strengthens its global standing. In contrast, Pakistan’s diplomacy often relies on grievance-driven rhetoric or reactive narratives that do little to build trust or respect in multilateral forums. Shahbaz Sharif must recognize that without a foundation of credible domestic achievements, international statements are hollow, and global influence remains elusive.
Symbolism That Speaks Volumes
The Prime Minister’s carefully orchestrated use of vehicles at the SCO arriving in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Hongqi L5 limousine and departing with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Aurus Senat was far more than ceremonial flair. These gestures conveyed mutual respect, personal rapport, and India’s ability to navigate high-stakes diplomacy with finesse. Pakistan, historically, has underestimated the significance of symbolism, often missing opportunities to reinforce credibility and stature through subtle yet powerful acts. Sharif needs to understand that diplomacy is as much about perception as it is about policy; gestures, timing, and presentation influence international standing just as strongly as words.
Economic Clout as a Tool of Influence
Modi’s focus on regional connectivity and development highlighting projects such as Chabahar Port and the International North-South Economic Corridor underscored India’s capacity to shape the regional economic landscape. India invited other nations to share in its growth story, effectively combining economic initiative with diplomatic leverage. Pakistan, despite its strategic location, has repeatedly failed to convert geography into tangible economic influence. Shahbaz Sharif must grasp that projecting economic opportunity, investment potential, and regional integration is essential for meaningful diplomatic engagement; without it, Pakistan risks being seen as a passive actor on the global stage.
Security and Credibility Go Hand-in-Hand
India’s call for collective action against terrorism within the SCO framework demonstrated a clear understanding that security and development are inseparable. By positioning itself as a responsible, proactive partner in regional security, India reinforced its credibility. Pakistan, on the other hand, often projects ambivalence on key security issues, weakening its position in multilateral platforms. For Sharif, the lesson is unambiguous: consistent, actionable commitment to counterterrorism and regional stability is essential to be taken seriously as a global and regional actor.
Independent Engagement Over Reactive Posturing
Modi’s insistence that India-China relations should not be interpreted through the lens of a third country reflects a mature, independent foreign policy. Pakistan, in contrast, allows its diplomatic positions to be heavily influenced by external narratives, limiting its ability to negotiate effectively or assert national priorities. Shahbaz Sharif must embrace direct, principle-based engagement, prioritizing Pakistan’s interests over reactive responses to perceived rivals or external pressures.
Proactive Multilateralism as a Marker of Credibility
The SCO’s new centres tackling organized crime, cyber threats, and drug trafficking received Modi’s endorsement, highlighting India’s commitment to forward-looking, reform-oriented multilateralism. Pakistan, however, tends to participate as a passive observer, rarely proposing innovative solutions or taking the lead on regional challenges. To enhance its global image, Pakistan must shift from reactionary participation to proactive engagement, demonstrating responsibility, foresight, and leadership in multilateral forums.
Action, Vision, and Strategic Foresight Are Non-Negotiable
The 2025 SCO Summit has laid bare a fundamental truth: India’s rise is built on a combination of domestic reform, strategic symbolism, economic foresight, and proactive security diplomacy. Pakistan, and particularly Shahbaz Sharif, can no longer afford half-measures or rhetorical posturing. The lessons are clear: credibility is earned through action, influence requires tangible economic and security contributions, and subtlety in diplomacy matters as much as negotiation skills. If Pakistan continues on its current path of dependency, reactive posturing, and missed opportunities, it risks permanent marginalization. The SCO Summit, in 2025, serves not just as a mirror but as a stark blueprint of what must be done for Pakistan to transform its global and regional standing or risk irrelevance.