In a dramatic diplomatic turnaround, Pakistan has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for ordering strikes on Iran — less than a day after praising him for brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India and formally recommending him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Just 24 hours earlier, Pakistan lauded Trump’s “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” in defusing tensions with India following the April massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The crisis had brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of war until U.S.-led diplomacy resulted in a ceasefire.
The Pakistani government’s social media post on Saturday evening publicly endorsed Trump for the prestigious Nobel honour. But by Sunday, after the U.S. launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in response to Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, Islamabad’s tone shifted sharply.
In an official statement, Pakistan called the strikes “a serious violation of international law and IAEA statutes,” expressing alarm that the targeted Iranian sites were under international safeguards. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced his concerns directly to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a phone call on Sunday.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s close ties with Iran, stating that Tehran had the right to defend itself, particularly in the context of the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Pakistan has repeatedly expressed support for Iran’s position in the region, particularly against Israeli airstrikes.
The awkward diplomatic pivot came on the heels of a high-profile meeting at the White House last Thursday between President Trump and Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Asim Munir. Also present were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs, Steve Witkoff. Both sides reportedly discussed regional tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict, and emphasized the need for de-escalation.
While Islamabad hailed Trump’s mediation in South Asia, India downplayed the involvement, reiterating its long-held position that Kashmir is a bilateral issue that requires no third-party intervention. The contested region remains a flashpoint in Indo-Pak relations, with both countries claiming it in full.
As of Monday, there has been no official follow-up from Pakistan on its Nobel Prize endorsement, drawing attention to the diplomatic contradiction of commending and condemning the same leader within a 24-hour window. The incident highlights the increasingly complex balancing act faced by countries like Pakistan amid overlapping regional and global crises.