Pakistan’s image after the US-Iran truce has improved sharply, according to a social listening report by Ipsos that points to a dramatic change in global online sentiment following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ceasefire announcement. The report says sentiment shifted from 90 per cent negative in late March to more than 70 per cent positive by April 8, 2026.
The reversal followed Pakistan’s role in helping broker a 14-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran. As the truce took hold, online discussion moved away from doubt and criticism toward praise for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
According to the report, online discussion first surged on March 23 after high-level contacts between Pakistani leaders and officials from Washington and Tehran. At that stage, global reaction remained largely sceptical. Critics pointed to Pakistan’s domestic political and economic instability, tensions in Afghanistan, and doubts over whether Islamabad could stay neutral while appearing close to US objectives. Negative sentiment ran especially high in the United States, India and Pakistan itself.
The tone shifted after Shehbaz Sharif announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8. Ipsos described that moment as transformative for Pakistan’s digital image, saying people now viewed the country as a key diplomatic actor rather than a marginal player.
The report identifies three main drivers behind that shift: global gratitude, praise for leadership and economic optimism. The hashtag #ThankYouPakistan began trending, while online users credited Pakistan with helping prevent a wider war. Many also praised the coordination between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. At the same time, some posts expressed hope that the ceasefire could help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease the global fuel crisis.
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The positive mood spread even to regions where Pakistan often faces criticism. Some social media users in India reportedly praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role while criticising their own government’s limited involvement in mediation efforts. That shift suggests the ceasefire changed not only official diplomacy, but also how ordinary users viewed Pakistan’s role in regional politics.
As the 14-day ceasefire continues, attention is shifting to Islamabad, where Pakistan has invited US and Iranian delegations to negotiate a more permanent agreement. Those talks began on Friday. For now, the Ipsos data suggests many online users no longer see Pakistan as a “pariah state” but as a leading mediator at a critical moment.
