Trump praises PM Shehbaz, ‘tough fighter’ CDF Munir at Board of Peace meeting

US President Donald Trump on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during the inaugural session of the Board of Peace in Washington.

Addressing the meeting, Trump described PM Shehbaz as a leader he “likes” and termed Field Marshal Munir a “tough, good fighter,” praising his professionalism.

Referring to last year’s military escalation between Pakistan and India, Trump reiterated his claim that Washington played a key role in defusing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

He said the situation had been deteriorating rapidly, with multiple aircraft shot down during the hostilities.

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The US president again asserted that his administration’s diplomatic intervention — including the threat of imposing 200% tariffs — helped secure a ceasefire.

Revising his earlier estimate of aerial losses during the conflict, Trump said that “11 very expensive” jets were shot down in the fighting.

The May 2025 confrontation marked one of the most serious flare-ups between Pakistan and India in decades before a ceasefire was reached.