US President calls Pakistani leadership “incredible”; thanks Arab and Muslim leaders for supporting new Gaza ceasefire proposal
Trump Hails Pakistan’s Support for Gaza Peace Initiative
US President Donald Trump on Monday praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for their full support of his newly unveiled 20-point Gaza peace plan.
During a White House press briefing, Trump stated:
“The Prime Minister and Field Marshal from Pakistan were with us from the beginning. They’re incredible… They backed this 100 percent and are fully in support of this plan.”
The remarks followed last week’s Oval Office meeting between Trump and the Pakistani leadership, signaling stronger bilateral ties.
Support From Arab and Muslim Nations
In addition to Pakistan, Trump acknowledged the support of several key Muslim and Arab nations:
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Jordan
- Türkiye
- Indonesia
- Egypt
“I want to thank the leaders of many Arab and Muslim nations for their tremendous support in developing the proposal,” Trump said.
Following the announcement, these nations’ foreign ministers issued a joint statement appreciating Trump’s “leadership” and “sincere efforts” to end the Gaza war.
Inside Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan: Key Highlights
Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”, revealed Monday, includes the following key points:
- Immediate ceasefire upon agreement
- Israeli military withdrawal to a pre-agreed line
- Suspension of all military operations, including aerial bombardments
- Return of all hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance
- Prisoner swap:
- Israel to release 250 life-sentence prisoners
- Release of 1,700 detained Gazans, including all women and children
- Remains exchange:
- For every deceased Israeli hostage, Israel will return 15 deceased Gazans
The plan emphasizes demilitarization and redevelopment of Gaza as a terror-free zone.
Strengthening US–Pakistan Ties
Trump’s praise comes amid warming US-Pakistan relations since his return to the presidency in January 2025:
- A $500 million US investment in Pakistan’s critical minerals and rare earths sector
- A new trade agreement including a 19% tariff on Pakistani imports
- Ongoing cooperation in developing Pakistan’s oil reserves
- Bilateral trade reached $10.1 billion in 2024, up 6.3% from 2023
Recent Diplomatic Engagements
- UN General Assembly Meeting (New York): Trump met briefly with Shehbaz Sharif and other Muslim leaders.
- White House Meeting: Trump hosted PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for direct talks on regional peace and trade.
