New Delhi: Shehbaz Sharif takes the cake for flattery, yet again. Hours before the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 was announced, the Pakistan Prime Minister harped on his recommendation of US President Donald Trump and his hope that his efforts “receive due recognition this time”.
The Nobel Committee chose to disagree. The peace prize went to Indian-origin South African Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Criminal Court judge, and anti-apartheid activist.
Sharif’s efforts could only win him condemnation, even from his own people. In an X post, Sharif wrote: “President Donald Trump played a historic role in advancing peace in South Asia. His timely intervention helped bring Pakistan and India back from the brink and secure a ceasefire, that is holding till today. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Pakistan had nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. We sincerely hope President’s efforts to promote peace and prevent conflict in our region receive due recognition this time.”
President Donald Trump played a historic role in advancing peace in South Asia. His timely intervention helped bring Pakistan and India back from the brink and secure a ceasefire, that is holding till today.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Pakistan had nominated…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 9, 2026
A Pakistani was the first to comment: “30 minutes after your tweet the Nobel Committee handed it to Navi Pillay. Your last minute bootlicking couldn’t move a single vote, yet you still rushed the tweet to grab credit in case Trump somehow won. Desperate. you and Asim Munir have turned Pakistan into a worldwide laughing stock, groveling for Trump’s approval just to prop up your illegitimate rule in Pakistan!!”
In June 2025, the Pakistan government formally nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his “decisive diplomatic intervention” and “pivotal leadership” during India-Pakistan hostilities last month.
The announcement made on X came two days after Pakistan army chief Asim Munir was hosted at the White House in Washington, after he advocated for the US president to be nominated for the prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, according to a Reuters report.
Trump has long voiced his frustration over not receiving the peace prize for his role in the Abraham Accords—normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab states—and for what he claims were his efforts to maintain stability across flashpoints like North Korea, Ukraine, West Asia and India-Pakistan.
While Pakistan credits Trump for ending the India-Pakistan crisis, India flatly denies any external mediation, asserting that the end to armed hostilities was achieved bilaterally. Indian officials have maintained that Trump played no mediatory role in the end of military operations between India and Pakistan post Operation Sindoor.
(Edited by Archishman Ganguly)
Also Read: Shehbaz Sharif was courting the Pound in London. Then it all became about ‘founders of Israel’