London (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday defended his government’s decision to put forward the name of US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him with preventing a major conflict in South Asia.
Speaking at a press conference in London, the premier said that Islamabad nominated Trump because his mediation “saved the region from devastation” during a period of heightened tensions with India.
Earlier in June, the government had formally moved to recommend Trump for the prestigious award, pointing to his “decisive diplomacy and crucial leadership” during the May standoff between Pakistan and India.
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The confrontation erupted after New Delhi accused Islamabad of involvement in the April 22 attack in IIOJK’s Pehalgam area, an allegation Pakistan rejected. The situation escalated into cross-border airstrikes, followed by retaliation from Islamabad.
The tensions eventually subsided after a ceasefire, with Trump later claiming that American efforts had averted what could have been a “very bad nuclear conflict” in the region.
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Responding to media queries on the matter, Shehbaz said, “Had Trump not stepped in, the destruction and loss of life could have been far worse.” He also pointed to US president’s broader role in helping ease friction between Ethiopia and Egypt, and even in the conflict in Ukraine.
