Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif calls Donald Trump ‘man of peace’ for India’s ceasefire intervention | Today’s news
Pakistan will continue to be grateful to US President Donald Trump for his timely role in facilitating a ceasefire with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, PTI reported.
Addressing a reception organized by the US Embassy on Thursday to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, Sharif described Pakistan-US relations as a long-standing and special partnership spanning nearly 80 years.
Referring to the four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan last year, triggered by a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, the prime minister said Trump’s intervention played a key role in ending the hostilities.
Here is what Sharif said
“Last year, after the unprovoked Indian aggression after the Pahalgam incident, it was President Trump’s timely and most decisive intervention that resulted in a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10 last year,” he said.
“We will forever remain grateful to President Trump for restoring peace in South Asia and saving millions of lives. In this regard, he will always be remembered as a man of peace,” Shehbaz said.
Following the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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Trump has repeatedly claimed that he helped bring peace between India and Pakistan after a military conflict. However, India has consistently maintained that the agreement was reached directly between the two countries and rejected claims of third-party mediation.
Shehbaz also praised Trump’s “unique” leadership style, saying the US president has brought “energy and determination” to Washington’s international engagement and promotion of its interests.
Under his “courageous and visionary leadership,” the U.S. “continues to inspire confidence and momentum while promoting peace, progress and prosperity,” the prime minister said.
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Recalling the history of bilateral relations, Shehbaz noted that the US was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan after its creation in 1947 and highlighted cooperation in security, trade, investment, agriculture, science, education, health and energy.
“We have a real and special relationship that spans nearly eight decades and includes cooperation not only in security and counter-terrorism, but also in trade, investment, agriculture, science, education, health, energy and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
On regional diplomacy, Shehbaz asserted that Pakistan has a role to play in facilitating contacts between the US and Iran and thanked Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for his contribution to the ongoing peace efforts.
“As I speak, this effort continues with the support of Iran and the United States, and we pray that we will achieve a lasting peace as soon as possible,” he said.
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In her remarks, US chargé d’affaires Natalie Baker described Pakistan and the US as “true strategic partners” and said the relationship is based on mutual respect, aligned interests and a shared vision of security and prosperity.
She said Trump’s approach to Pakistan was “direct, personal and consistent”, focused on achieving results, managing crises and seizing opportunities.
