During the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump once again lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing him as a “terrific man.” He reiterated his claim of playing a pivotal role in ending the military standoff between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
Trump highlighted Pakistan and India among eight conflicts he asserted he helped resolve since his return to the White House. “Since taking office, I have had the honor of helping settle eight wars, forging friendships with many leaders involved,” he stated, emphasizing the significance of these diplomatic achievements.
He attributed his success to leveraging strong relationships and strategic tariffs, mentioning countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Gaza alongside Pakistan and India. Trump added that most of these nations had sent him letters of appreciation.
Specifically referring to PM Sharif, Trump said, “The prime minister of Pakistan — terrific man — credited me with saving 30 million lives, and likely many more.” This assertion reflects Trump’s own estimation of the conflict’s potential impact, which was not independently verified during his speech.
Trump’s claims regarding his role in halting the Pakistan-India fighting have been echoed by Pakistani officials who acknowledge US diplomatic efforts helped bring about the ceasefire more than a year after tensions escalated sharply in April and May 2025.
The crisis intensified following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, with India blaming Pakistan-based militants, a charge Islamabad denied. India retaliated with strikes inside Pakistan on May 7 targeting militant infrastructure, which led to reciprocal attacks and a four-day exchange raising fears of a wider war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
On May 10, Trump announced a “full and immediate ceasefire” agreement between India and Pakistan after intense US-mediated negotiations. Both Pakistan’s foreign minister and India’s foreign ministry confirmed the truce. US diplomatic pressure was credited with helping secure this ceasefire after days of fighting.
Following the ceasefire, Trump continued to assert that his intervention prevented the conflict from escalating further, a view also publicly supported by Sharif and other Pakistani officials. This latest praise came as part of Trump’s broader address, where he portrayed himself as a peacemaker who helped resolve multiple international conflicts, while also focusing on the war in Ukraine, tensions involving Iran, and criticisms of global institutions.
Meanwhile, US-Pakistan relations have improved since the 2025 confrontation, with Trump having met both Sharif and Pakistan’s military leaders, frequently acknowledging Pakistan’s role in his diplomatic endeavors.
On June 20, Trump commended Pakistan’s leadership for facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran during heightened regional tensions. In an interview, he praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their coordination and strong working relationship, noting Pakistan’s close ties with Iranian officials helped advance negotiations. Trump expressed his fondness for the Pakistani people and stated he acted on Islamabad’s request to prevent further escalation with Iran.
He emphasized that the broader Iran framework, including a temporary ceasefire and steps toward a lasting settlement, was possible due to coordinated diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan and other regional actors.
In a significant development on October 13, 2025, PM Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump for his “exemplary leadership,” sincerity, and courage in securing peace in Gaza. Speaking at an event, Sharif described the achievement as “one of the greatest days” following months of persistent diplomacy.
Sharif also recalled Pakistan’s earlier nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his role in preventing further escalation between India and Pakistan. He expressed deep honor at seeing Trump’s efforts acknowledged once again for contributing to stability in South Asia and peace in Gaza.
“Millions of lives have been saved,” Sharif said. “From South Asia to the Middle East, our collective struggle has borne fruit, and I salute the president who stood shoulder to shoulder for peace.”
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