PM Shehbaz lauds President Trump's leadership in Lebanon ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday lauded Donald Trump for his leadership in securing a ceasefire in Lebanon, as well as his role in helping defuse tensions between Pakistan and India last year when the two countries were on the brink of war.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the cordial interaction, PM Shehbaz conveyed his warm regards to President Trump and recalled his past engagements with him. He reiterated his appreciation for what he described as Trump’s “bold and decisive leadership” that contributed to the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, and also praised his role in achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The two sides discussed ongoing regional developments, including Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts that helped facilitate ceasefire arrangements and the Islamabad talks aimed at promoting dialogue and stability. The prime minister highlighted the importance of sustaining these efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

PM Shehbaz also stressed the need to further strengthen Pakistan-US relations, particularly in the areas of economic and trade cooperation, as well as collaboration on key issues in multilateral forums.

Massad Boulos conveyed greetings from President Trump and appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability. He reaffirmed Washington’s interest in expanding engagement with Islamabad in areas such as counter-terrorism, economic development, and addressing broader global challenges.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.