In a significant boost to Pakistan’s international standing, US President Donald Trump delivered glowing praise for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, calling him a “terrific” leader and describing Pakistan as a “great country.”
Speaking before world leaders at the UN headquarters in New York, Trump revealed that PM Shehbaz had personally called to thank him for American assistance on a matter of critical importance to Pakistan. According to the US president, the prime minister credited Trump’s intervention with helping to end hostilities between Pakistan and India in May 2025—a conflict Trump claimed could have cost 30 million lives.
“Pakistan is a great country. PM Shehbaz Sharif, a terrific man, called me to say thank you,” Trump told the assembly, adding that the Pakistani leader expressed gratitude for the US role in de-escalating the dangerous confrontation.
The public acknowledgment at such a prominent international forum represents a diplomatic win for Islamabad, potentially signaling warmer US-Pakistan relations and enhanced regional standing for the South Asian nation. Trump’s remarks come at a time when Pakistan seeks to strengthen its position on the global stage and attract international investment.
Trump also boasted during his speech that he had “settled eight wars” during his presidency, though he provided few details about these claims.
The US president’s UNGA address covered numerous contentious topics beyond Pakistan. He issued stark warnings to Iran, threatening to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if Tehran refuses to negotiate an end to their ongoing conflict, while simultaneously predicting a peace deal would emerge after the November US midterm elections. Trump urged other nations to join America in economically isolating Iran to force it toward negotiations.
In an unusual announcement, Trump declared that his administration would replace the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” in all government communications, dismissing international calls for AI oversight as a “globalist scheme.” He compared AI safety concerns to climate change warnings, which he characterized as alarmist.
The president also took aim at Mexico, calling it the “epicenter of cartel violence,” and predicted Cuba would soon collapse as a “failed state.” His remarks prompted Cuban delegation members to walk out of the assembly hall.
Trump renewed his criticism of international institutions including the United Nations itself and the International Criminal Court, declaring that US military personnel would never be subject to ICC authority. His defiant stance came days after a UN fact-finding mission reported reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in strikes on Iran, including one that hit a primary school.
While Trump’s 2026 UNGA appearance was less combative than his previous year’s speech—when he warned countries were “going to hell” and was briefly stranded on a malfunctioning escalator—he maintained his confrontational approach toward multilateral organizations.
For Pakistan, Trump’s public praise offers a rare moment of positive recognition from Washington at a crucial diplomatic venue, potentially opening doors for enhanced bilateral cooperation and improved international perception.
