By Amjad Qaimkhani
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has once again publicly praised Pakistan’s political and military leadership, describing the country as “great” and its top officials as “excellent” during remarks made in a media interaction.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Pakistan’s prime minister and the country’s field marshal were “outstanding personalities”, in comments that appeared to underline Washington’s continuing engagement with Islamabad at a time of shifting regional alignments and multiple ongoing diplomatic flashpoints.
He also claimed that a program referred to as “Project Freedom” had been halted following discussions with Pakistan’s leadership. While he did not provide further detail on the nature or scope of the initiative, he suggested that Islamabad had played a role in urging restraint during diplomatic exchanges and had requested a pause in certain actions while negotiations were under way.
The remarks add to a pattern of recent public statements in which Trump has framed Pakistan as an active interlocutor in regional de-escalation efforts. According to his account, Pakistani leaders had encouraged calm during sensitive discussions, particularly in contexts involving wider geopolitical tensions.
The US president also asserted that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership had been widely recognized internationally for their involvement in mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, aimed at easing friction and managing regional security risks. These claims have not been independently verified through official diplomatic communiqués.
Trump has previously voiced similar praise. In October 2025, he described Pakistan’s field marshal as a “good man” and referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a “great leader”, remarks made during an address linked to the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
