WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership on Thursday, commending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in promoting peace, during the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” in Washington.
Trump made the remarks while addressing the opening session of the summit, his initiative aimed at securing stability in Gaza.
“I like Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Your Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is not only a great general, but also a great human being,” Trump said at the meeting.
He added: “Prime Minister Sharif — I like this man — of Pakistan. Because there was some fighting going on when I got to know him and your Field Marshal, great general, great Field Marshal.”
Remarks on India-Pakistan conflict
Referring to a four-day conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025, Trump said he had intervened diplomatically.
“That war was raging, 11 planes were being shot down,” he said. “And it was Pakistan and India, and I got on the phone with both of them.”
Trump said he had warned both sides that trade negotiations with the United States would not proceed unless tensions were reduced.
“I called them and said, ‘Listen, I am not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up.’ And they said, ‘No, no, no.’ That was both of them,” he said.
میں پاکستان کے وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف کو پسند کرتا ہوں۔ آپ کے فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر واقعی ایک عظیم جرنیل ہی نہیں، بلکہ ایک عظیم انسان بھی ہیں۔ امریکی صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ pic.twitter.com/2JHiouwhN2
— Ammar Masood (@ammarmasood3) February 19, 2026
He added that both countries later pulled back. “A little bit of a pullback by one and then the other, and all of a sudden, we worked out a deal,” Trump said, describing it as a “very big deal”.
“Eleven jets were shot down, very expensive jets,” he said, without providing further details.
During the May conflict, Pakistani officials have claimed that Pakistan military have downed seven Indian fighter jets including French-made Rafale jets.
Trump also recalled Sharif telling him, in the presence of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, that he believed Trump had “saved 25 million lives” by helping to stop the conflict.
“You made that statement … it was really a beautiful thing,” Trump said, addressing PM Sharif.
PM Sharif arrives in Washington
Prime Minister Sharif arrived in Washington on Thursday at Trump’s invitation to attend the Board of Peace meeting.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the visit reflects Pakistan’s inclusion in the Board and its “effective role for the promotion of global peace”.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the premier.
The PMO said Prime Minister Sharif would also meet senior US officials and other participating leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Discussions are expected to cover bilateral relations and global issues of mutual concern.
Pakistan joined the Board of Peace in late January and signed its founding charter during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Focus on Gaza and stabilisation force
The summit’s immediate agenda includes consolidating a ceasefire in Gaza, mobilising financial pledges for the Board and shaping a proposed global forum intended to advance peace efforts.
Participants are also expected to discuss a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), tasked with securing reconstruction zones and supporting post-conflict governance arrangements in Gaza.
Last month, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan would continue to engage with international efforts aimed at peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue in line with United Nations resolutions.
Pakistan has reiterated at international forums its readiness to play a “constructive role” in US-led peace efforts for Palestine.
The Board of Peace was launched by Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos in late January, where leaders including PM Sharif signed on to pursue what organisers described as a lasting agreement for Gaza.
