“Pakistan is great,” Trump said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz and CDF Munir would like to see something happen
Prime Minister Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir and US President Donald Trump at the White House Photo: PMO X account
US President Donald Trump again praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts to promote peace and negotiations with Iran, despite another pause in the diplomatic process.
His remarks came after he canceled a planned visit by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Pakistan to speak with Iranian officials. The Iranian foreign minister also left Pakistan after meetings with senior officials.
“I think Pakistan is great. The Field Marshal (Asim Munir) is great. I think the Prime Minister of Pakistan (Shehbaz Sharif) is great and you know they want to see something happen,” Trump said.
However, he announced that he would not send his team to Islamabad, citing the long journey and travel expenses. “But we’re not going to travel 15 or 16 hours to have a meeting with people no one has ever heard of,” he said, adding that it would be very expensive and that he is “a very cost-conscious person”.
He reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, saying Tehran had “offered a lot but not enough”.
“They don’t want a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple. That whole deal is not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
This is the second time this month that the US president has publicly praised Prime Minister Shehbaz and CDF Munir for their commitment to efforts to facilitate negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the conflict.
Read: US-Iran peace process stands in the way as Trump cancels envoy trip, FM Araghchi leaves Pakistan
On April 17, Trump had similarly praised the Pakistani leadership, describing them as “fantastic people”. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he wrote: “Thanks to Pakistan and its great Prime Minister and Field Marshal, two amazing people!”
The US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28, killing dozens of top military officials, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan earlier this week.
Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, and restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for oil and gas shipments.
Fighting later spread to Lebanon after Israel launched an offensive there, widening the conflict as the US and Israel continued attacks on Iran.
As the conflict continued to widen and intensify, Pakistan emerged as a mediator along with other regional powers in the escalating crisis. As the negotiation process began, the US and Iran exchanged their respective positions, but early discussions yielded no progress. But after sustained diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, both sides agreed to hold talks in Islamabad last week.
But Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement in Islamabad over the weekend during talks that were part of a broader effort to end the conflict.
Washington remains locked in a costly stalemate with Tehran as tensions between the two sides continue to roil global energy markets. Iran has reportedly tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil flows, while the United States maintains restrictions on Iranian oil exports. The standoff, along with a broader regional conflict, has pushed energy prices to multi-year highs and raised concerns about global inflation and growth.
Iran has said its officials do not plan to meet with US representatives to discuss an end to the conflict, which has escalated tensions across the region.
The situation briefly appeared to ease earlier this week when Trump extended a cease-fire to allow more time for talks, following previously inconclusive talks involving US and Iranian officials in Islamabad.
On Friday, Trump said Reuters that Iran was expected to present an offer to meet US demands, but declined to provide details. But when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, Trump announced that he had canceled a planned visit by US envoys.
Trump’s history of praising Pakistani leadership
It was not the first time that Trump spoke highly of Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, when last year speaking at an international event on peace in Gaza on October 13, 2025, he said: “I want to thank Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and I also have to say my favorite field marshal of Pakistan, who is not here, but the prime minister is here … salute him.”
In other cases too, he appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz and CDF Munir, crediting them for helping to avert escalation in South Asia.
Pakistan-US relations saw a significant thaw in 2025-2026, moving from a cold period to a warm, strategic and pragmatic engagement during Trump’s second term. This shift was largely driven by a major reset in relations following President Trump’s intervention in regional conflicts, particularly his role in brokering a May 2025 ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
The first thaw in Pakistan-US relations came via covert counterterrorism exchanges, signaling significant cooperation. Last March, Trump unexpectedly praised Pakistan’s fight against terrorism during a national address, prompting a policy shift.
The brief but intense skirmish in May with India in May 2025 was a decisive turning point that demonstrated Pakistan’s military discipline, strategic focus and asymmetric capabilities – qualities that reportedly surprised Trump.
Despite India’s repeated denials, Prime Minister Shehbaz continued to praise President Trump for his role in brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying his intervention had helped save millions of lives.
That praise was reciprocated, with Trump praising the prime minister and also praising CDF Munir as he repeated claims that he had helped avert a war between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
Ties between the countries took a further turn when Trump invited CDF Munir for a lunch – the first such meeting for a Pakistani military chief – followed by a red carpet visit to the US Central Command headquarters for high-level talks.
Following a ceasefire following the protracted conflict in Gaza, Trump announced the formation of a “Peace Council” that included Pakistan, again singling out Prime Minister Shehbaz for praise during its inaugural summit.
Addressing the event, Trump said, “I like this guy,” referring to the prime minister as he recounted efforts that led to last year’s ceasefire between Pakistan and India. He also praised CDF Munir during his remarks.
