Pakistan Nominates Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

Pakistan nominates Trump (U.S. President Donald) for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan during a brief but intense conflict in May 2025. The nomination highlights Trump’s diplomatic efforts, which Pakistan credits with preventing a broader war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The conflict, sparked by a terrorist attack in India-administered Kashmir, saw four days of military escalation. Pakistan’s government praised Trump for his back-channel diplomacy, which they say led to a ceasefire. Trump’s engagement with both nations’ leaders, including a rare White House meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, was noted as a key factor. Pakistan also acknowledged Trump’s offers to mediate the longstanding Kashmir dispute, a persistent source of regional instability.

However, the nomination has stirred debate. India denies Trump played a significant role, insisting the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the two countries. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some Pakistani users supporting the move, while others, including activists, criticize it, pointing to Trump’s backing of Israel’s actions in Gaza and recent U.S. strikes on Iran. One user called the nomination “a strategic play,” suggesting it could influence Trump’s stance on regional issues like Iran.

Trump has long expressed a desire for the Nobel Peace Prize, recently claiming he deserves it for resolving multiple global conflicts, including those in Rwanda, Congo, and Serbia-Kosovo. He has also lamented that the award often favors liberal figures, a sentiment echoed in his Truth Social posts.

The nomination comes amid shifting U.S.-South Asia dynamics. Trump’s neutral stance has strained ties with India, a traditional U.S. ally against China, while warming relations with Pakistan. As the Nobel Committee reviews nominations, Trump’s diplomatic legacy remains a polarizing topic, both in South Asia and beyond.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 23rd, 2025

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