During the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt, US President Donald Trump publicly thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s field marshal Asim Munir for their role in bringing peace to Gaza. The summit was attended by over 20 world leaders amid the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, ending one of the deadliest phases of conflict in the region that started back in October 2023.
Trump lauds Pakistan’s role during Gaza peace summit
Addressing the ceremony after the signing, Trump acknowledged the efforts of several world leaders and invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliver a special address. “Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and I have to say my favourite Field Marshal from Pakistan, who is not here today, but the Prime Minister is,” Trump said, before turning to Sharif and asking him to speak at the summit. Sharif, in return, did not miss a single moment to praise Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for their efforts in securing the breakthrough.
“Today is one of the greatest days in contemporary history because peace has been achieved after untiring efforts led by President Trump, who has worked day and night to make this world a place of peace and prosperity,” Shehbaz said. He added that Pakistan had previously nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the border tension between India and Pakistan, and said he now deserved it again for helping secure peace in Gaza.
“I genuinely feel he is the most wonderful and deserving candidate because he has not only brought peace to South Asia, saving millions of lives, but also to the Middle East,” Shehbaz said, calling Trump a “man of peace and vision.”
While addressing leaders from South Asia, Trump said, “I think Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together,” looking directly towards Shehbaz. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reportedly received a last-minute invitation from President Trump to attend the summit, declined the offer. Representing India instead was Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who met Trump as Modi’s envoy. Their meeting focused on India’s support for peace efforts and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
‘You are the man the world needed most’
The Pakistani Prime Minister continued praising Trump’s leadership, saying, “You are the man this world needed the most at this point in time. The world will always remember you as the man who went out of the way to stop seven and now eight wars.” He also thanked the Emir of Qatar and the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE for their contributions to the peace process. “Had it not been for this gentleman,” Shehbaz said, referring to Trump, “who knows what could have happened between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. His intervention prevented a catastrophe.”
Trump, who was co-hosting the summit, smiled and responded: “Wow! I didn’t expect that. Let’s go home, there’s nothing more I have to say. That was really beautiful and beautifully delivered. Thank you very much.”
Over two years of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza had claimed more than 67,000 lives. Last month, Trump helped mediate a truce with the support of eight Muslim nations, for the end of the Gaza conflict through a 20-point peace plan. The agreement was signed last week and included an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.