LONDON, UK – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly endorsed Pakistan’s formal recommendation of former US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his “decisive diplomatic intervention” that helped de-escalate a near-war situation between Pakistan and India in May. The conflict began after New Delhi retaliated following a disputed attack in occupied Kashmir.
Speaking at a press conference in London, PM Sharif responded to a question about the nomination, asserting, “Mr Trump eased tension between Pakistan and India and has saved the region from major destruction.” He emphasized that without Trump’s intervention during the 2024 escalation—which Trump himself claimed averted a “bad nuclear war”—”there would be more destruction and loss of lives.” The premier also credited Trump with easing tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt, and even in Ukraine.
Focus on Gaza Diplomacy
PM Sharif described his recent meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in Washington as “very fruitful; it was very successful.” He highlighted a meeting co-chaired by President Trump on Gaza, to which Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia were invited.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that a “very constructive discussion” could soon lead to “a positive result… that in the Gaza war, there may be a ceasefire.” Addressing the situation in Gaza, he condemned the sustained violence: “Since 2023 in Gaza, the market of oppression and tyranny has been heated, and innocent Muslims are being martyred, including children, mothers, sisters, and youngsters.” He stated that such “cruelty and intensity has rarely been witnessed in modern times,” stressing that Pakistan had raised a strong voice at the UN in solidarity with its Palestinian brothers and sisters.
India Conflict and Climate Calamity
During his talks with Trump, PM Sharif also raised Pakistan’s concerns regarding the escalation with India and how New Delhi had allegedly weaponized the Indus Waters Treaty against the Pakistani people. He celebrated the Pakistani military’s response to the 2024 conflict, citing the armed forces for having “defeated India” and making them “learn a lesson which they will remember for a lifetime.” He praised the forces’ courage and professional equipment, led by Field Marshal Saeed Asim Munir and Air Marshal Zaheer Babar.
Shifting to domestic challenges, the premier noted that while the economy had stabilized on a macro level, the catastrophic effects of climate change were taking their toll. He detailed the impact of the 2025 massive floods, which, for the first time in decades, struck both the rural heartland and industrial centers, causing billions of dollars in damage.
“Unfortunately, due to climate change… this time Punjab became the target of this flood due to which more than people lost their lives, hundreds of thousands of people were injured, thousands of remote areas were submerged, farms were destroyed, and installations suffered immense damage,” he said. Despite the crisis, he maintained an optimistic outlook: “But our spirits are high and we are facing this completely, and Inshallah we will overcome this and move forward.”
