In a surprising diplomatic manoeuvre, Pakistan nominated the controversial United States (US) President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize early on Saturday.
At first glance, the decision may appear counterintuitive, particularly given the Republican’s controversial presidencies, characterised by military interventions and a foreign policy that often drew criticism.
Read more: Trump meets Asim Munir: Is Pakistan regaining strategic relevance?
However, a second thought reveals something deeper. The Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump might be a calculated effort by Pakistan to improve its relevance on the global stage as geopolitical dynamics in wider Asia shifts.
Trump’s Luncheon with Pakistan’s Military Chief
The nomination comes mere days after the country’s army chief, Asim Munir, attended a rare private luncheon with Donald Trump. The meeting was notable as it is extremely rare for a sitting US president to invite a foreign military leader to the White House.
Many have interpreted this event as helping Pakistan renew its significance in the US foreign policy, especially as the country grapples with severe economic challenges and soaring inflation.
Currently, Pakistan is facing one of worst inflation rates in decades, forcing the need for a strategic alliance with strong economies and international support to stabalise its economy.
US-Pakistan relations
Relations between the US and Pakistan have been strained since the former withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021; this left Pakistan in search of new avenues to restore its standing, especially as India emerged as an important player in US interests.
The world’s most populated country became the tenth-largest trading partner with the US, who strengthened its ties with New Delhi to counter the growing influence of China.
The pivot towards India further complicated Pakistan’s position, necessitating a reevaluation of its diplomatic strategies to regain relevance with the West.
Diplomatic Implications
By nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan is not merely seeking to flatter the US President; it is strategically positioning itself to gain favour in a complex geopolitical landscape.
The nomination might serve a number of purposes:
Reaffirming Relevance
In a world where the country’s influence appears diminished, this movie signals its intent to remain a key player in international diplomacy.
By engaging with Trump, Pakistan is attempting to re-establish importance in US foreign policy circles.
Countering India
The nomination comes at a time when India has been rather hostile in its interaction with Pakistan. Besides using a tragedy that occurred in Indian-occupied Kashmir to accuse Pakistan of terrorism without evidence, upping the ante with striking Pakistan—including the country’s attempt to target its military bases—all signs of the Indian government coaxing its smaller neighbour into an all-out war.
Having also overtaken Japan to become the fifth-largest economy currently, most of the international community remained silent, despite two nuclear-armed states at brink of a war.
Most major international players merely called for de-escalation, with the European Union (EU) in particular showing a more positive tilt towards India. With Trump’s tariffs costing the economic bloc dearly, the EU has been looking for other trade partners.
A strong Indian economy meant that the EU turned towards it, dealing a huge blow to Pakistan.
And while Pakistan may have played its cards well, Indian disinformation campaign is still extremely strong. There have been several studies exposing thousands of ‘disinformation cells’ across India spreading fake news about Pakistan and India.
Asim Munir’s private luncheon with Trump incensed India, with the Indian Prime Minister going so far as to refute the US President’s claims of having played a personal role in bringing about a ceasefire.
By aligning itself with Trump, Pakistan aims to improve its impression with the billionaire businessman, famous for allegedly charging businessmen as much as millions of dollars for a chance to dine with him.
Pakistan has quietly sought to champion Iran’s side during the ongoing Israel-Iran War, which has entered its second week. Israel started the conflict on June 13 when it carried out airstrikes on several targets in Iran, including its top military personnel and scientists.
The occupying force also bombed Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, and has openly called for the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While Iran has refused to back down and retaliated with its own series of drones, missiles—a hypersonic missile and even allegedly a cluster bomb-bearing missile—the country’s weak economic position means it cannot sustain a military confrontation for long.
While giving ambiguous statements, Trump has openly sided with Israel, not ruling out joining the occupying regime in bombing Iran, eliminating its Supreme Leader, and even dropping a nuclear bomb on the Middle Eastern state.
In an emergency meeting called at the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Pakistan backed Iran’s side. It openly threw its support behind Iran, with the country’s permanent representative to the UN calling “Israeli aggression” a violation of the UN Charter and international law.
Playing the role of a mediator in a high-stakes regional conflict could help improve Pakistan’s diplomatic standing. Many experts have already determined the army chief’s private luncheon with Trump as primarily concerning the Iran-Israel War.
Improving Relations with Iran
By engaging with Trump on personal level and stroking his ‘ego‘ by nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan may be positioning itself as a facilitator of peace in a region fraught with constant conflicts.
Such a move could even help improve its relations with Iran, facing increasing isolation due to its nuclear programme.
This mediation role could provide Pakistan with leverage in its dealing with Iran, who has in recent years enjoyed closer ties with India.
India signed a ten-year deal to develop the Chabahar Port in Iran, perceived by Pakistan as directly competing with Gwadar Port—potentially diverting trade and investment, influencing India’s geopolitical influence in Iran and increasing Indian access to the landlocked Afghanistan. This raises security risks as it will allow India direct access to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa via a porous border.
Indian spies have also entered Pakistan to sow discord in Balochistan via Iran border.
Pakistan and Iran have also witnessed cross-border shelling, with the latter carrying out a series of missile and drone strikes in Balochistan in 2024.
Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province, claiming that it had targeted the Iranian Baloch Sunni militant group, Jaysh al-Adl.
Pakistan condemned the attack and even retaliated with strikes into Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, citing targeting terrorist hideouts.
With an increasingly isolated Iran supported only by Russia outright as its Middle Eastern ally, Syrian President Bashar al Assad fell to rebels earlier this year, and the complete decimation of Hezbollah in Lebanon by Israel, the Islamic Republic needs allies to advocate for it at international level.
Addressing the Kashmir Issue
The official statement released by the Pakistan government on X (Twitter) upon nominating Trump also touched on the longstanding Kashmir issue.
The statement mentioned that peace in South Asia would remain elusive as long as this conflict remained unresolved.
By highlighting this point, Pakistan seeks to draw international attention to the biggest contention point in its relations with India. The Pakistani government might be hoping to gain a more favourable outcome in future negotiations.
Cost-Effective Diplomacy
The nomination represents a low-cost diplomatic effort. It requires minimal financial investment while potentially yielding significant political capital.
By appealing to Trump’s sense of ‘self-importance’, Pakistan can extract goodwill without substantial expenditure. Sometimes, symbolic gestures can lead to tangible benefits.
A Lesson from Ukraine
This situation also highlighted a missed opportunity by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In his interactions with Trump earlier this year, an intense stand-off occurred in front of world media. Zelensky may have inadvertently pushed Trump further into the Russian camp.
While Zelensky’s stance against Russian aggression and invasion of its territories is undoubtedly justified, the public confrontation with someone as unpredictable as Trump may have undermined Ukraine’s position in the ongoing invasion, especially considering the European state is reliant on US for billions in funds and weaponry.
During the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, the US was notably reluctant to take a firm stance against Russia, a position that can be traced back to Trump’s influence. This illustrates how diplomatic engagement, even with unpredictable leaders, can significantly impact international relations.
Had Zelensky adopted a more conciliatory approach, he might have fostered a more favourable environment for Ukraine’s cause, potentially even swaying US policy in a direction more aligned with Ukrainian interests.
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Pakistan has often been criticised for its foreign policy failures: only country in world not to recognise Armenia, its tumultuous relations with the US over the decades, including its decision to squarely join the US bloc during the Cold War; instead of the more pragmatic approach by India that pursued the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
NAM enabled India to navigate a balanced diplomatic approach, fostering strong relations with for the former USSR while simultaneously maintaining friendly ties with the US and Europe. Even in the 21st century, India remains one of the few countries able to procure oil from Russia during the height of the Russo-Ukraine War without facing significant economic repercussions. The world’s fifth largest economy successfully cultivated strong economic relations with Washington and Brussels.
However, Pakistan proposing Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize might be a calculated move by the cash-strapped nation to improve its relevance with the world’s biggest economy.