U.S. President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their support of Washington’s newly unveiled 20-point Gaza peace plan. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump described the two leaders as “incredible,” adding that Islamabad has been “with us from the beginning” in backing the proposal aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“The Prime Minister and Field Marshal from Pakistan were with us from the beginning,” Trump told reporters. “They just put out a statement that they fully believe in this pact. They backed this 100 per cent and are fully in support of this plan.”
Trump also extended thanks to leaders across the Muslim and Arab world, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Indonesia, for what he called their “tremendous support” in shaping the proposal.
The “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” announced Monday, envisions Gaza as a deradicalized, terror-free zone with guarantees of redevelopment and security for neighbouring states. If adopted by both Israel and Hamas, the agreement would see hostilities immediately cease, with Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed positions while preparations for a hostage release take place.
Key elements of the plan include:
- Suspension of all military operations during the transition period.
- The release of all hostages, alive or deceased, within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance.
- The exchange of detainees, including the release of 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, among them women and children.
- A remains-for-remains arrangement, whereby for every Israeli hostage returned deceased, Israel will release the remains of 15 Palestinians.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, and Pakistan welcomed Trump’s “leadership” and “sincere efforts” to end the war in Gaza.
Trump’s high praise for Islamabad came days after his Oval Office meeting with Sharif and Munir, which followed a recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Pakistan. The two countries have strengthened ties since Trump’s return to the White House in January. Recent deals include U.S. investment of $500 million in Pakistan’s minerals sector, a July pledge to develop Pakistan’s oil reserves, and a trade agreement that allows Washington access to critical resources while placing a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani imports.
U.S. goods and services trade with Pakistan totalled an estimated $10.1 billion in 2024, up 6.3 per cent from the previous year, reflecting a thaw in relations. Trump said the Gaza plan, backed by key regional partners, shows “real momentum” toward peace in the Middle East, with Pakistan’s role described as “essential.”