By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has put forward US President Donald Trump as a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his diplomatic efforts to defuse a recent flare-up with India that risked plunging the nuclear-armed neighbours into war.
“The government of Pakistan has decided to formally recommend President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis,” said an official statement, issued early Saturday
The latest rift between the arch-rivals started on April 22 after an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives. India pointed the finger at Pakistan-backed “terrorists,” a charge Islamabad flatly rejected.
The accusation ignited a four-day conflict from May 7 to May 10, marked by fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery fire. US President Donald Trump stepped in to broker a ceasefire, halting the escalation, for now.
The endorsement is a rare accolade for Trump, whose presidency was often defined by controversy and an unconventional approach to foreign affairs. Critics say Trump has long radicalised public opinion.
Pakistan frames Trump’s role in the India-Pakistan crisis as a continuation of that approach, though critics question its lasting impact. The nomination arrives as global crises, from the Middle East to South Asia to Ukraine, test diplomatic resolve, with Pakistan suggesting Trump’s methods could find wider use.
But, the nomination is certain to spark discussion, given Trump’s polarising stature and the varied reactions on the Palestinian crisis, as well as Ukraine and Iran-Israel conflict in his second tenure in the White House.
Yet for Pakistan, the focus remains on a singular achievement: a crisis averted through dialogue when the alternative was unthinkable. The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded annually to those who advance fraternity between nations, now looms as a potential recognition of that effort, a testament to the power of diplomacy in an era of mounting global tensions.
Pakistan says President Trump showed “great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship,” during April conflict “through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation, ultimately securing a ceasefire and averting a broader conflict between the two nuclear states that would have had catastrophic consequences for millions of people in the region and beyond”.
“This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker and his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue.”
The statement also highlighted Trump’s repeated offer to get involved in the region’s most intractable Kashmir dispute.
“The Government of Pakistan also acknowledges and greatly admires President Trump’s sincere offers to help resolve the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, an issue that lies at the heart of regional instability,” it stated. Durable peace in South Asia would remain elusive until the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir.”
Pakistan framed Trump’s actions during the 2025 crisis as part of a broader diplomatic legacy. “President Trump’s leadership during the 2025 Pakistan-India crisis manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building,” the statement said. “Pakistan remains hopeful that his earnest efforts will continue to contribute towards regional and global stability, particularly in the context of ongoing crises in the Middle East, including the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating escalation involving Iran.”
The recommendation places Trump’s name before the Norwegian Nobel Committee for consideration alongside other nominees for the 2026 peace prize. Formal nominations for the prize can be made by qualified individuals, including national government officials and members of certain international institutions. Pakistan’s status as a sovereign nation qualifies its submission.
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