WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is among the distinguished leaders participating in the inaugural session of the Board of Peace in Washington, where US President Donald Trump expressed admiration for the Pakistani leader, stating, “I like this guy.”
Beginning his speech, Trump described the event as “a significant day,” mentioning that “many people are watching, especially from other nations… We have an extensive group of leaders present, and those who aren’t here are following via Zoom. I hope they find it engaging,” he said.
Trump noted that he had previously supported candidates in the United States but now was also endorsing foreign officials, and he explicitly recognized PM Shehbaz during his remarks.“Prime Minister Shehbaz I like this man from Pakistan. There was some tension when I first met him and your military chief, a great general, a remarkable Field Marshal, and a strong individual,” Trump recounted.
He added, “I had the opportunity to meet the prime minister, and he told me, in front of our Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, that ‘you know, nobody realizes this, but I believe President Trump saved 25 million lives by stopping the conflict between Pakistan and India,’” he said.
Addressing PM Shehbaz directly, Trump remarked, “You made that statement… it was truly a wonderful thing.”
Referring to the four-day clash between Pakistan and India in May 2025, he said: “That conflict was intense, with aircraft being shot down. Pakistan and India were at war. I personally got on the phone with both leaders. I knew Prime Minister Narendra Modi quite well. I also learned about Pakistan through trade negotiations. They were trying to strike a very favorable deal, which I found a bit frustrating.”
Ultimately, he noted, both nations achieved their goals and struck a good agreement, and he grew to respect them the prime minister and the Field Marshal, who he described as a formidable and determined fighter.Trump explained that he reached out to both Pakistan and India following the May crisis.
He concluded by emphasizing, “Our main goal is very straightforward peace. That’s what the Board of Peace is all about pursuing peace. It’s a simple word to say, but a difficult one to realize. We are committed to making it happen. We’ve made good progress, and many of the leaders here have contributed significantly to this effort.”
