NEW DELHI: US PresidentDonald Trump on Monday surprised attendees at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on Gaza by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the gathering. Interrupting his own speech, Trump asked Sharif, “Do you want to say something” and further told him to “say what you said to me the other day.“During his five-minute address, PM Shehbaz lauded Trump’s role in the peace process, calling him a “man of peace.” He said, “I would say this is one of the greatest days in contemporary history, because peace has been achieved after untiring efforts. Efforts led by President Trump, who is genuinely a man of peace who had relentlessly and untiringly worked throughout these months, day in and day out, to make this world a place to live in peace and prosperity.”
PM Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his “outstanding, extraordinary contributions to first, stop war between India and Pakistan and then achieve a ceasefire, along with his very wonderful team.” He added, “Again, I would like to nominate this great president for the Nobel Peace Prize, because I genuinely feel he is the most genuine and most wonderful candidate for the peace prize because he has brought not only peace in South Asia — saved millions of people, their lives — and today, achieving peace in Gaza [and] saving, millions of lives in the Middle East.”Earlier, Trump acknowledged PM Shehbaz and his “favourite field marshal from Pakistan” before giving him the floor. Shehbaz described Trump as “the man the world needed most at this point in time” and said the world would remember him as someone who “stopped seven, now eight, wars.” He added, “Suffice to say, had it not been for this gentleman, who knows, India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers, had he not intervened with his wonderful team during those four days, the war could’ve escalated to a level and who would’ve lived to tell what happened. Similarly, here in this part of the world in the Middle East, Mr president, your valuable contribution along with President Sisi, I think history will remember in golden words.” Retaking the podium, Trump quipped, “Wow! I didn’t expect that. Let’s go home, there’s nothing more I have to say. Goodbye everybody. That was really beautiful and beautifully delivered, thank you very much.” The summit in Egypt brought together international leaders to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and broader peace initiatives in the region. PM Shehbaz’s remarks reinforced Pakistan’s recognition of Trump’s efforts in fostering regional stability.
