Several Pakistani politicians voiced strong objections on Sunday to the government's decision to nominate former U.S. President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The recommendation came under intense scrutiny after the U.S., under Trump’s leadership, conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
The Pakistani government had initially justified the nomination, citing Trump’s “decisive diplomatic efforts” during last month’s Pak-India standoff, which saw both nations pull back from the edge of war following U.S. mediation. The official statement praised Trump’s leadership, crediting him with facilitating a ceasefire through strategic diplomacy.
However, following the latest U.S. military actions and Trump's endorsement of Israeli strikes across the region, political figures across party lines have demanded a review of the nomination. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called the decision misleading, stating Trump’s actions contradicted peace efforts. He criticized Trump’s meeting with Pakistan’s military leadership, suggesting it influenced the government’s decision.
Fazl argued that true peace cannot coexist with support for military aggression in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and now Iran. He emphasized the importance of national sovereignty and economic independence in U.S.-Pakistan relations. Other leaders, including PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan, former senator Mushahid Hussain, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naeemur Rehman, also condemned the move, calling it diplomatically inappropriate and nationally humiliating.
Former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said the nomination does not reflect public sentiment. Veteran politician Afrasiab Khattak termed the act “embarrassing,” especially as it coincided with the U.S. bombing of Iran. Meanwhile, journalist Mariana Baabar and author Fatima Bhutto questioned whether Pakistan would now revoke its nomination.
Trump has long sought the Nobel Peace Prize and has been nominated previously, though critics argue his military actions undermine his credibility as a peacemaker.
