Pakistan has announced its intention to nominate former US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, emphasizing his alleged role in negotiating a ceasefire last month between India and Pakistan. The Nobel laureate will be announced in October, and Trump has often suggested he deserves the honor.
The Pakistani government remarked on social media that Trump merited the award “in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis.” This follows Trump’s unexpected declaration in May of a ceasefire, which came after four days of intense conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.
In a statement released early on Saturday, Pakistan claimed that Trump exhibited significant strategic insight and exemplary statesmanship, engaging robustly with both Islamabad and New Delhi to de-escalate a worsening situation. They highlighted, “This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker.”
There has yet to be a response from either the US or India regarding Pakistan’s nomination. Trump has frequently asserted that the United States facilitated the ceasefire and has suggested that trade considerations influenced the agreement. Pakistan has aligned with the US position on this, while India has rejected any claims of third-party mediation.
In remarks to reporters last month, Trump recounted his discussions with India and Pakistan, stating, “I said, ‘Come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys [India and Pakistan]. Let’s stop it.’”
The announcement of Pakistan’s nomination has received mixed reactions. Mushahid Hussain, a former chair of the Senate Defence Committee in Pakistan’s parliament, endorsed the move, saying, “Trump is good for Pakistan. If this panders to Trump’s ego, so be it. All the European leaders have been sucking up to him big time.”
Conversely, Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, criticized the nomination as “unfortunate,” citing Trump’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and his previous comments about military actions in Iran. She stated on X, “It compromises our national dignity.”
Additionally, Trump recently shared on Truth Social that while he has mediated negotiations among various nations, he is skeptical about ever receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, remarking, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.” Since taking office, Trump has sought to resolve ongoing conflicts in places like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza, although tangible peace agreements remain elusive. He has also previously denounced Barack Obama’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, calling for its rescindment in 2013 due to what he saw as a lack of accomplishment within that short time frame.