Pakistan credits Trump’s diplomacy in India-Pakistan crisis with Nobel nomination

Pakistan has officially nominated former US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him with “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” during the recent India-Pakistan crisis. The move has drawn international attention, as well as scepticism from India, which has repeatedly denied claims that Washington played a role in de-escalating the situation.

In a statement published in Dawn, Pakistan hailed Trump’s efforts during what it described as “a moment of heightened regional turbulence.” It praised the former president for his “great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi.”

The post further asserted that Trump “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.” Islamabad described the intervention as a testament to Trump’s “commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue.”

The nomination follows comments made by Trump last Friday, where he claimed he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for a number of efforts, including his role in South Asia. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I should have gotten it four or five times. They won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals.”

He also cited a treaty—reportedly set to be signed on Monday—aimed at ending hostilities between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, as another example of his peace-making efforts.

In a subsequent post on social media, Trump reiterated his involvement in brokering peace across various global flashpoints, including India-Pakistan, Serbia-Kosovo, and Egypt-Ethiopia. Referencing criticism from Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official who accused him of prioritising personal recognition over national security, Trump responded defiantly: “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between India and Pakistan… but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me!”

While Trump has yet to receive a Nobel, his supporters view the nomination as long overdue recognition of his unconventional diplomacy. However, the move is likely to stir fresh debate, especially given India’s categorical denial that any US-led mediation played a role in resolving the recent standoff.

Whether the Nobel Committee will take the nomination forward remains to be seen, but Pakistan’s backing of Trump adds a new and unexpected dimension to an already complex regional narrative.