ISLAMABAD, June 21 – Pakistan announced its intention to nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination, officials say, is in recognition of Trump’s diplomatic efforts that helped defuse a dangerous military standoff between Pakistan and India earlier this year.
The standoff, which lasted four tense days, saw both nuclear-armed nations on the verge of open conflict. Amid rising fears of escalation, Trump intervened, calling for a ceasefire and urging both sides to stand down. A truce was quickly reached, and while the United States credits its diplomatic channels for facilitating the calm, India maintains the ceasefire was a result of a bilateral understanding with Pakistan’s military. Despite these conflicting narratives, Islamabad insists that Trump’s role was instrumental in averting disaster.
“President Trump demonstrated extraordinary strategic foresight and bold statesmanship,” a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry read. “His timely and effective engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi helped de-escalate a rapidly worsening crisis. Such leadership deserves global recognition.”
The announcement to nominate Trump for the peace accolade has caused waves across the region and beyond. In particular, Pakistani officials believe the recognition might nudge Trump toward a more balanced stance in the Middle East, This comes at a time when speculation is mounting over a potential collaborative military move by the U.S. and Israel against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—an approach Pakistan has firmly rejected, warning that it could destabilize the region and breach established international conventions.
The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded annually, recognizes individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to peace. Countries and certain institutions are eligible to submit nominations, and Pakistan seems ready to take that step. Although Washington has yet to respond formally to the announcement, the move has already generated global conversation.
Trump himself has repeatedly claimed credit for preventing what he termed “a near-certain nuclear conflict” between India and Pakistan. Speaking during a recent rally, he expressed frustration that his efforts to resolve international conflicts, despite his involvement in initiatives like the Abraham Accords in the Middle East and recent efforts in South Asia, he feels the international recognition he seeks continues to elude him. “I probably won’t get the Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” he said in a social media post.
Islamabad has welcomed his repeated offers to mediate in the decades-old Kashmir dispute. Successive Pakistani governments have long advocated for third-party involvement to bring attention to the volatile region, which remains a core issue in India-Pakistan relations. India, on the other hand, has consistently rejected any external mediation, asserting that Kashmir is an internal matter.
The recent initiative to nominate Trump came shortly after an unusual high-profile engagement between Pakistan’s top military leadership and the U.S. president. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, reportedly had lunch with Trump in a private setting—an event that raised eyebrows due to its timing and diplomatic implications. It was also notable for being the first such interaction between a serving army chief and a U.S. president while a democratic government remains in office in Islamabad.
However, the decision to put forward his nomination has sparked division among voices within Pakistan. Critics argue that Trump’s recent public endorsements of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and his support for hardline positions against Iran, disqualify him from being a legitimate contender for a peace prize.
Prominent Pakistani journalist and political commentator Talat Hussain was quick to voice his dissent. “Trump, the chief backer of Israeli aggression in Gaza and a potential supporter of strikes on Iran, is no peacemaker,” he posted on X. “Awarding him any peace prize would be an insult to those suffering from wars he encouraged.”
Others, however, believe the nomination serves both diplomatic and strategic purposes. Mushahid Hussain, a former chair of the Senate Defence Committee, defended the move. “Trump is good for Pakistan. If this plays to his ego, so what? European leaders have done far worse in trying to win his favor,” he said.
Relations between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have seen fluctuations over the years, and the latest developments could further test that dynamic. A scheduled meeting between the two leaders at the recent G7 summit in Canada did not materialize, reportedly due to Trump’s early departure. However, they later spoke over the phone, where Modi reiterated India’s firm stance against any form of mediation on Kashmir.
Whether Trump will accept or even acknowledge Pakistan’s Nobel Prize nomination remains to be seen. But the gesture has already served as a strong geopolitical signal. It highlights Islamabad’s willingness to leverage international recognition as a tool for diplomacy and its ongoing desire to reset the balance of power in South Asia.