Several prominent Pakistani politicians and public figures have urged the government to reconsider its recent decision to nominate former US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize following the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a surprising announcement last Friday, the Pakistan government, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, sent a letter to the Nobel Committee nominating Trump for the award, citing his role in easing tensions during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
However, the move has come under intense scrutiny after the US bombed three major nuclear sites—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—in Iran, in coordination with Israel’s efforts to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), demanded that the government withdraw the nomination. Speaking at a party meeting in Murree, Fazlur described Trump’s peace credentials as “false” and criticized the nomination as a result of Pakistani rulers’ close ties with the US military leadership.
“Trump has supported Israeli attacks on Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. How can this be a sign of peace?” he questioned. “With the blood of Afghans and Palestinians on America’s hands, how can he claim to be a peacemaker?”
Former senator Mushahid Hussain also called for revocation of the nomination on X (formerly Twitter), describing Trump as having “willfully unleashed an illegal war” and accused him of falling under the influence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war lobby.
“Trump engaged in deception and betrayed his own promise not to start new wars,” Hussain said, condemning the US airstrikes on Iran as a “biggest blunder” of Trump’s presidency.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan simply tweeted “reconsider,” highlighting US aggression against Iran and continued support for Israeli actions in Gaza.
Opposition PTI leaders also condemned the US strikes as “unprovoked” and voiced strong support for Iran’s sovereignty. Raoof Hasan, head of PTI’s political think-tank, described the government’s nomination as “a cause of unmitigated shame and embarrassment” and criticized the disregard for international laws by the US.
Former senator Afrasiab Khattak called the nomination “sycophantic” and “not part of normative conduct in international diplomacy,” adding that it was “most embarrassing” given the timing just before the bombings.
Jamaat-i-Islami chief Naeemur Rehman stated the decision “undermines our national dignity and grace,” while former Pakistani ambassador to the US Maleeha Lodhi called the nomination “unfortunate” and said it did not represent the public’s views.
Senior journalist Mariana Baabar posted on X, “Today Pakistan does not look too good either,” criticizing the government’s move. Author and activist Fatima Bhutto questioned whether Pakistan would withdraw the nomination in light of the recent developments.
The controversy underscores growing domestic unease over Pakistan’s foreign policy stance amid escalating regional tensions, with calls mounting for a reassessment of the Nobel Peace Prize nomination in light of ongoing conflict and violence in West Asia.
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