The PakStack — June 26

Strategic Slap or Spin? Iran Crowns Itself Victor

Welcome to The PakStack, where what matters today in Pakistan, India and the rest of South Asia can be read and processed in five minutes or less.

Written by Shiza M. / Edited by Wajahat S. Khan

After the Ceasefire, Iran Declares Victory — U.S. Strategy in Turmoil

1. Khamenei: US strikes “achieved nothing”

2. Iran casts nuclear sites bombing as strategic failure for Washington

3. “Harsh slap” to America boosts Tehran’s hardliners

4. Ceasefire fragile as both Khamenei and Trump weigh in

5. Signals Iran digging in, complicating future diplomacy

Takeaway: Iran's Supreme Leader is playing the perception game masterfully. By framing U.S. strikes on nuclear sites as strategic failures that "achieved nothing," Khamenei isn't just spinning—he's reshaping the post-conflict landscape with support from a leaked assessment by the Pentagon. His declaration of delivering a "harsh slap to America's face" serves multiple purposes: rallying domestic support, strengthening hardliners over moderates, and positioning Iran as the defiant victor despite material losses. This narrative offensive complicates Washington's regional calculus significantly. The fragile ceasefire now exists in a space where Tehran claims moral and strategic victory while both Khamenei and Trump publicly weigh in, creating volatility. For U.S. policymakers, this means any future diplomatic overtures will face an emboldened Iranian leadership that believes it weathered America's worst punch and is now even thinking of dumping the IAEA.

Trump’s Return to Center Stage: Israel Yay, Ukraine Nay at NATO

1. Meets Zelensky, doesn’t talk about ceasefire or new aid

2. Calls on Israel to cancel Netanyahu’s corruption trial

3. Demands allies boost defense spending to 2% GDP

4. Signals Trump’s renewed bid to reshape global order on his terms

Takeaway: President Trump's latest international moves reveal a leader aggressively using presidential authority to reshape global relationships. His call for Israel to drop Netanyahu's corruption trial isn't just diplomatic pressure—it's a sitting U.S. president attempting to directly influence foreign judicial proceedings. Meanwhile, his NATO summit meeting with Zelensky shows that Ukraine isn’t the flavor of the month. Also, Trump leveraging America's position to force uncomfortable conversations about burden-sharing has led to Europeans trying their best to please him. The 2% GDP demand gains new weight coming from the Oval Office. With Ukraine bleeding resources and incurring more casualties than 2024, and European allies stretched thin, Trump's pressure campaign strikes at NATO's most vulnerable moment.

Snubbed by China, India Draws the Line: Terror Messaging Splits SCO, Spills into UN

1. New Delhi rejects SCO statement seen as pro-Pakistan

2. Rajnath Singh blocks joint text over “watered down” terror language

3. At UNSC, Delhi revives cross-border terrorism charge against Islamabad

4. India asserts independence over regional consensus

5. Highlights growing India–China–Pakistan divergence within SCO

Takeaway: India’s refusal to back the SCO joint statement exposes a tilt toward domestic optics over multilateral diplomacy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh torpedoed the communique over its omission of April’s Pahalgam attack, declaring that “some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy”—a clear swipe at Pakistan and, indirectly, at China for soft-pedaling. While India brands this as principled counterterrorism, the reality is more combustible: New Delhi held a China-led summit hostage over language others, including Russia and Central Asian states, accepted. Moreover, Singh’s claim that “peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism” rang hollow amid India’s refusal to build consensus or be transparent in its post-Pahalgam investigations. Plus, it’s India that’s been engaged in transnational repression, targeting Canadian and US citizens violently, and not Pakistan. By weaponizing terror rhetoric to corner Pakistan, India may score points at home—but risks isolating itself abroad. At a time when regional partnerships are vital, New Delhi’s confrontational stance may cost it the very influence it seeks.

Bridge to the Middle East: Pakistan Leverages Diplomacy and Rights Advocacy

1. Iran thanks Pakistan for role during Israel war, per PM Sharif

2. Islamabad hailed as mediator by Tehran—rare public recognition

3. Pakistan condemns torture in Gaza and Kashmir on UN Anti-Torture Day

4. Sharif government positions itself as regional peace-broker and rights advocate

5. Bolsters narrative of Pakistan as a “voice for oppressed” in Muslim world

Takeaway: Pakistan’s military-run foreign policy babus are threading a diplomatic needle with impressive skill. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has encouraged Pakistan to continue playing its role in ongoing peace efforts with Iran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed "complete solidarity" with Iran amid heavy exchanges with Israel. This dual positioning—supporting Iran while maintaining new impetus with the Americans—showcases Pakistan's growing diplomatic leverage.