Trump hails PM Shehbaz as 'terrific man' in UNGA speech

New York (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, referring to him as a “terrific man” and recalling his involvement in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May last year, which Trump said helped save 30 million lives.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Trump outlined what he described as his foreign policy accomplishments over the past year, particularly highlighting his efforts to mediate between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Trump told the world leaders present at the gathering that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally recognised his key contribution, saying that the US president had played a direct role in saving more than 30 million lives.

PM Shehbaz, who arrived in New York on Monday to participate in the UNGA proceedings, was also present as Trump spoke about his diplomatic efforts.

Trump said that after taking office, he had the “great honor” of helping bring an end to eight wars, several of which, he claimed, had continued for years and even decades.

Trump said that these settlements were made possible through what he described as his “very, very special” relationships.

He listed Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, and Armenia and Azerbaijan among the conflicts he said he had helped resolve. He also mentioned the war in Gaza, saying the process included the return of all hostages, both living and dead.

“Almost every one of these countries wrote me a letter of thank you. The Prime Minister of Pakistan – terrific man – said that Donald Trump was responsible for saving 30 million lives and probably many more than that,” he said.

Trump has previously spoken highly of PM Shehbaz, as well as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, describing the two as “two fantastic people.”
During the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, Trump again praised Shehbaz’s leadership and referred to Pakistan’s contribution toward preventing further escalation with India.

Trump has also previously spoken favourably of Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing him as a “highly respected general”, a “great fighter” and “my favourite”.

PM Shehbaz, in turn, has previously referred to Trump as a “man of peace” while expressing appreciation for what he described as the US president’s sincere efforts to bring various conflicts to an end.

Following the four-day military confrontation between Pakistan and India in May 2025, PM Shehbaz thanked Trump for his role in facilitating the ceasefire, saying that the US president had helped “avert a major catastrophe in South Asia.”