US President Donald Trump has once again praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling them “great people” who helped end the brief Pakistan-India conflict earlier this year. During his address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Trump repeated his admiration for both leaders, describing Field Marshal Asim Munir as a “great fighter” and crediting him alongside PM Shehbaz Sharif for restoring peace in South Asia.
Trump Praises Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for Ending Pakistan-India Conflict during his remarks at the luncheon, saying he intervened personally to defuse tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Referring to the May conflict, Trump said he had threatened to impose a 250% tariff on both India and Pakistan if hostilities continued, adding that the pressure worked and the fighting stopped within 48 hours.
The former US president recalled speaking to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, warning that the United States would suspend trade discussions unless both sides stopped their attacks. “After literally two days, they called up and said, ‘We understand,’ and they stopped fighting,” Trump said, claiming credit for averting what could have been a major escalation between two nuclear powers.
During his speech, Trump once again described Modi as a “nice-looking guy” but “tough as hell,” while emphasizing that Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir earned his rank through exceptional military skill and leadership. He noted that the ceasefire reached between the two nations was a direct result of US diplomatic engagement.
In May, tensions between Pakistan and India reached their highest point in decades following a terrorist attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region. India wrongfully accused Pakistan of supporting the attack that killed 26 people, which Islamabad strongly denied. New Delhi launched unprovoked strikes on Pakistani territory, killing several civilians, before Pakistan’s Armed Forces responded decisively through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, downing seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones.
The short but intense confrontation ended on May 10 with a US-brokered ceasefire after 87 hours of hostilities. Trump’s remarks at APEC highlight Washington’s continued recognition of Pakistan’s responsible handling of the crisis and Field Marshal Asim Munir’s strategic command in preventing further escalation.
