Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC on September 25, 2025. Photo: Handout
United States President Donald Trump was all praise for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Friday, following a breakthrough in Iran’s announcement to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “Thank you to Pakistan and its great prime minister and field marshal, two fantastic people!”
The Pakistan-US relationship experienced a significant thaw in 2025–2026, transitioning from a cold period to warm, strategic, and pragmatic engagement during President Donald 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 ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
The first thaw in Pakistan-US relations came via secret counterterrorism exchanges, signaling substantive cooperation. In March last year, Trump unexpectedly praised Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts during a national address, prompting a policy shift.
The short but intense May skirmish with India in May 2025 became a decisive turning point, showcasing Pakistan’s military discipline, strategic focus, and asymmetric capabilities – qualities that reportedly surprised Trump.
Despite India’s repeated denials, PM Shehbaz continued to praise President Trump for his role in brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying his intervention had helped save millions of lives.
The praise was reciprocated, with Trump commending the premier and also lauding CDF Munir, as he reiterated 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 Munir to a luncheon — the first such meeting for a Pakistani military chief — followed by a red-carpet visit to US Central Command headquarters for high-level talks.
Following a ceasefire after the prolonged war in Gaza, Trump announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” that included Pakistan, again singling out Sharif for praise during its inaugural summit.
Addressing the event, Trump said, “I like this guy,” referring to Sharif, as he recounted efforts that led to last year’s ceasefire between Pakistan and India. He also praised Munir during his remarks.
Earlier this year, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing dozens of top military officials, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before a two-week ceasefire was mediated 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 United States and Israel continued attacks on Iran.
As the conflict continued to expand and intensify, Pakistan emerged as a mediator alongside other regional powers in the escalating crisis. As the negotiation process began, the United States and Iran exchanged their respective positions, but early discussions yielded no progress. However, following 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 broader efforts to end the conflict.
Later, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which took effect at 1400GMT Monday.
Although the talks ended without a breakthrough, they left a measure of hope, with both parties indicating a willingness to continue negotiations. Efforts resumed this week, with Trump expressing optimism about reaching a deal soon.
With another round of dialogue expected as early as this weekend, Iran took a step toward de-escalation by announcing the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all commercial shipping.
