Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have both extended praise to US President Donald Trump for his diplomatic efforts in easing recent military tensions between India and Pakistan.
They also encouraged Washington to step in and assist in launching a broader peace dialogue between the two countries.
Speaking at the US Embassy in Islamabad during a ceremony commemorating the 249th anniversary of American independence, PM Shehbaz highlighted the role played by President Trump in defusing the situation.
He said that the recent four-day standoff exposed the Pahalgam incident as a “false-flag operation” and credited the US President for securing a swift ceasefire.
“President Trump has proven himself as someone committed to peace and meaningful economic cooperation,” the prime minister stated. “He is someone who resists escalation, whether it’s through cold wars or active conflict.”
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Referring to the events of May 6–7, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s defensive action led to the downing of six Indian fighter jets, following air strikes that resulted in the deaths of 33 civilians on the Pakistani side.
“Our response was measured,” he added. “We didn’t act in haste. We even proposed an international investigation into the Pahalgam incident, but India responded with hostility rather than cooperation.”
He congratulated the American people and President Trump on their Independence Day, calling for a fresh start in US-Pakistan relations.
According to the premier, ties between the two nations are now moving towards a more constructive phase.
Meanwhile, in Washington, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who is leading a Pakistani delegation on a three-day visit, echoed the prime minister’s sentiments.
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Addressing Pakistani journalists, he acknowledged President Trump’s diplomatic intervention during the recent crisis.
“Trump has openly taken credit multiple times for helping broker the ceasefire and rightly so,” said Bilawal. “His involvement made a real difference.”
He went on to suggest that the US could play a positive role in encouraging sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan.
“If Washington is genuinely interested in preserving this calm, then encouraging formal talks between the two neighbors is the logical next step,” he said.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
