Trump Hails India-Pakistan Peace Prospects at Gaza Peace Summit, Gets Praise from Shehbaz Sharif and Modi:

In a surprising and somewhat light-hearted moment during the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about relations between India and Pakistan — two long-time rivals in South Asia. Speaking alongside several world leaders, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Trump said he believed that the two nuclear-armed neighbors would “live very nicely together.” “India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top,” Trump said, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He has done a fantastic job. I think that Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together,” he added, turning to PM Sharif with a smile. The Pakistani leader chuckled at the remark, which drew laughter from those present. The Gaza Peace Summit, co-hosted by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was convened to finalize a long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after over two years of intense fighting. Yet the event also became a platform for broader regional dialogue, including South Asia. During his remarks, Trump praised Pakistan’s military leadership and stressed that peace in the region required cooperation and goodwill. Gesturing towards Prime Minister Sharif, he quipped, “He is going to help make that happen, right?” Sharif, who spoke immediately after Trump, expressed his gratitude, particularly for Trump’s alleged role in preventing a potentially catastrophic conflict between India and Pakistan. “Had it not been for this gentleman, who knows what could have happened,” Sharif said. “India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers. If he and his team hadn’t intervened during those four critical days, things could have escalated to a point where none of us would be here to tell the story.” Trump had previously claimed credit for defusing tensions between the two countries multiple times during his presidency. In a speech to Israel's Knesset just a day earlier, he had listed it among "eight conflicts" he claimed to have helped prevent. Back on May 10, Trump had announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire following U.S.-mediated talks. However, India later stated that the ceasefire was the result of direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both sides, not due to any third-party mediation. India's Presence at the Gaza Summit India was represented at the summit by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who attended as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh’s visit marked the first official interaction between an Indian minister and Trump since the recent Operation Sindoor. Following the summit, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on social media platform X, saying, “India welcomes the signing of the landmark peace agreement and hopes this will lead to lasting peace in the region.” Modi Praises Trump’s Efforts Prime Minister Narendra Modi also publicly acknowledged Trump’s efforts in brokering the Gaza ceasefire, particularly the release of hostages held by Hamas. In a post on X, Modi wrote, “We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump, and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu.” He added, “We support President Trump’s sincere efforts to bring peace to the region.” A Landmark Ceasefire Deal The Gaza Peace Summit concluded with the signing of a landmark ceasefire agreement, which Trump called a “new and beautiful day” for the Middle East. Leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world attended the summit, expressing hope that this agreement would mark the beginning of lasting peace in the region after years of war and suffering.

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