In a landmark moment for regional diplomacy, US President Donald Trump publicly thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their contributions to the Gaza peace initiative. The acknowledgment came during a ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, marking the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Trump, while addressing world leaders at the summit, referred to Pakistan’s army chief as “my favourite Field Marshal Asim Munir” and invited Prime Minister Shehbaz to share his thoughts with the audience. The ceasefire is being described as one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in recent years.
Taking the stage, PM Shehbaz Sharif showed admiration for both President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for steering months-long negotiations that ultimately ended the conflict. He described the day as “one of the greatest in contemporary history,” crediting Trump for his “untiring efforts” and calling him a “genuine man of peace.”
The prime minister went a step further by reiterating Pakistan’s decision to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the past, and now helping secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
“You are the man this world needed the most at this point in time,” Shehbaz said, applauding Trump for helping avert multiple wars around the globe. The premier also extended his thanks to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE for supporting peace efforts behind the scenes.
Trump, visibly moved by the remarks, jokingly responded, “I didn’t anticipate that. There’s nothing more I need to say—goodbye everybody,” drawing laughter from the audience.
Peace Plan and Diplomacy
The ceasefire follows two years of intense conflict in Gaza, which has taken more than 67,000 lives. Eight Muslim countries have supported Trump’s mediation—resulted in a 20-point peace plan that includes a prisoner exchange and the release of Israeli captives in the first phase.
Pakistan has been actively involved in diplomatic outreach since the last UN General Assembly session in New York. PM Shehbaz has encountered with one of the most important international leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, UN Secretary General António Guterres, and the leaders of Jordan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
Throughout his meetings, the premier stressed Pakistan’s “moral and political commitment” to the Palestinian cause, reaffirming support for a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the Palestinian capital.
Calling the ceasefire “an extremely important step toward lasting peace,” PM Shehbaz said the world must ensure that the suffering endured in Gaza is “never repeated again.”