On February 19, 2026, US President Donald Trump hosted the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Board in Washington, where he lauded Pakistan’s leadership for their role in regional stability. Addressing an audience of world leaders, Trump expressed his “great appreciation” for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and described Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir as an “outstanding military commander” and a “great fighter.”
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During his keynote, Trump revisited the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, claiming his personal intervention prevented a nuclear catastrophe. He revealed that he had warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 200% tariffs if the fighting did not stop immediately. In a characteristic display of “numbers diplomacy,” Trump asserted that 11 aircraft were shot down during that brief war, an increase from his previous estimates of eight and ten planes. He thanked PM Shehbaz for his public acknowledgment that the US intervention “saved 25 million lives.”
Strong words from Donald Trump as he lauded PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir as decisive leaders.Speaking in Washington,he said intense regional tensions shaped his positive view of Pakistan’s command.A sign Pakistan is advancing confidently on the diplomatic front. pic.twitter.com/I6gxyYK6pd
— FORCES HUB ⚔️ (@ForcesHub) February 19, 2026
The meeting underscored Pakistan’s rising geopolitical profile under its current civil-military leadership, with Trump referring to Munir as his “favorite field marshal” for the 10th time this year. While India continues to deny third-party mediation, the growing rapport between Washington and Islamabad remains a central pillar of the Trump administration’s “Board of Peace” strategy.
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