Pakistan Slams Trump’s Iran Strike Hours After Praising Him for Peace Efforts

Pakistan has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for launching military strikes on Iran, just hours after recommending him for a Nobel Peace Prize for helping to defuse a crisis with India.

The abrupt shift came less than a day after Islamabad praised Trump’s “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” in preventing a potential war between nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India, following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April.

Tensions had escalated dangerously, with cross-border attacks pushing both countries toward open conflict. But U.S.-led diplomatic efforts ultimately led to a ceasefire that Trump publicly claimed credit for—a move that prompted Pakistan to formally nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in a statement on social media Saturday night.

By Sunday, however, that praise had turned to condemnation. Pakistan denounced the U.S. airstrikes on Iran, calling them “a serious violation of international law” and a breach of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protections.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, voiced concern over the bombings, which reportedly hit facilities safeguarded by the IAEA. Pakistan maintains strong diplomatic ties with Iran and has supported its claims of self-defense in recent clashes with Israel.

There has been no official comment from Islamabad on whether it still stands by Trump’s Nobel nomination following the Iran strikes.

The apparent diplomatic contradiction comes days after a high-profile White House lunch between Trump and Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Asim Munir. Also in attendance were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs.

According to Pakistan’s military, the leaders held an in-depth discussion on “prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel,” stressing the need for a peaceful resolution.

While Pakistan publicly thanked Trump for his role in easing tensions with India, New Delhi dismissed the need for external mediation, reaffirming its stance that Kashmir remains a bilateral issue.

The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir remains at the heart of hostilities between India and Pakistan, with both nations claiming it in full. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants operating in the region—an allegation Islamabad denies.