Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday (September 26, 2025) expressed readiness for dialogue with India, crediting U.S. President Donald Trump for defusing the May conflict between the two neighbours. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly a day after meeting Mr. Trump at the White House, Sharif hailed the U.S. leader’s intervention as “bold and visionary.”
Trump’s role in May conflict
The Pakistani premier was accompanied in Washington by Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s military chief, who reportedly told Mr. Trump that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a ceasefire.
The May clashes erupted after Islamist militants massacred civilians, mostly Hindus, in Kashmir. India responded with strikes on Pakistani military sites, raising fears of a wider war.
Sharif claimed Pakistan “delivered a bloody nose” to India, saying New Delhi came “shrouded in arrogance” but was forced into retreat. He credited Mr. Trump’s “timely and decisive” intervention for halting the escalation.
Call for dialogue with India
“Pakistan stands ready for a composite, comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues. South Asia requires proactive rather than provocative leadership,” Mr. Sharif told the UNGA.
He reiterated Islamabad’s longstanding position that Kashmir remains central to peace in the region, though India has consistently rejected third-party mediation on the issue.
Strains in India-U.S. ties
Mr. Trump announced the ceasefire after four days of fighting, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying talks between India and Pakistan would take place at a neutral venue.
However, New Delhi downplayed Washington’s role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided mention of Mr. Trump’s intervention and has since faced friction with Washington over tariffs. Mr. Trump imposed fresh duties on India after its continued purchase of Russian oil, despite being described as a “close partner” by the U.S. administration.
Shift in U.S. policy towards Pakistan
Mr. Trump’s outreach to Islamabad marks a sharp shift from former President Joe Biden’s stance, when the U.S. kept its distance over Pakistan’s links to the Taliban during the Afghanistan war.
Adding another layer of controversy, shortly before the May conflict, a Trump family company signed a cryptocurrency deal in Pakistan. Critics argue that Mr. Trump’s economic and diplomatic moves in South Asia are closely intertwined.
Conclusion
As Pakistan seeks renewed talks with India, the spotlight on Mr. Trump’s mediation underscores shifting geopolitical equations in South Asia. While Islamabad lauds his efforts, New Delhi’s reluctance to engage under U.S. pressure leaves the future of dialogue uncertain.