Pakistan announced on Saturday that it would recommend U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his role in resolving the recent conflict between India and Pakistan – an accolade he has openly said he craves, Reuters reports.
Some Pakistani analysts believe the move could be a calculated effort to influence Trump’s stance on a potential Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Pakistan has condemned Israel’s actions as illegal under international law and a threat to regional stability.
In May, Trump unexpectedly declared a ceasefire that ended four days of hostilities between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. Since then, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for averting a nuclear war and saving millions of lives, while lamenting the lack of recognition.
Pakistan acknowledges that U.S. diplomacy helped stop the fighting, though India insists the ceasefire was a bilateral military agreement.
"President Trump demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi, which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation," Pakistan said. "This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker."
Governments are allowed to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. There was no immediate comment from Washington, and India’s government also did not respond to a request.
Trump has repeatedly offered to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which lies at the heart of tensions between India and Pakistan. Islamabad, which seeks greater international involvement in Kashmir, welcomed his offer.
However, Trump's position has disrupted traditional U.S. policy in South Asia, which had leaned toward India as a strategic counterbalance to China, and has strained ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a social media post on Friday, Trump listed conflicts he claimed to have resolved, including those between India and Pakistan and the Abraham Accords involving Israel and Arab nations during his first term. He added: "I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do."
The nomination also followed a rare lunch meeting between Trump and Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House—the first such meeting during a civilian government’s tenure in Islamabad.
Trump had been scheduled to meet Modi at the G7 summit in Canada last week, but the meeting didn’t happen as Trump left early. The two leaders later spoke by phone, during which Modi stated, "India does not and will never accept mediation" in its dispute with Pakistan, according to the Indian government.
Former Pakistani senator Mushahid Hussain supported the Nobel nomination, saying it was justified.
"Trump is good for Pakistan," he said. "If this panders to Trump’s ego, so be it. All the European leaders have been sucking up to him big time."
Still, not all in Pakistan agreed, especially amid outrage over Trump’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
"Israel's sugar daddy in Gaza and cheerleader of its attacks on Iran isn't a candidate for any prize," said Talat Hussain, a prominent Pakistani political talk show host, in a post on X. “And what if he starts to kiss Modi on both cheeks again after a few months?"
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