‘Averted catastrophe’: Pakistan PM hails Trump as ‘man of peace; all that unfolded in their meeting

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed US President Donald Trump as the “man of peace” and thanked him for “facilitating the ceasefire between Pakistan and India.” He said that his “bold, courageous, and decisive” actions averted a “major catastrophe” in South Asia.This comes just days after the deputy prime minister said that India had ruled out any third-party mediation during Operation Sindoor, ruling out claims of a US-brokered peace between the two neighbours. India has outrightly denied any third-party mediation in cessation of military operation against Pakistan. “Speaking during a warm and cordial meeting with President Trump at the Oval Office, the prime minister said the US leader’s bold, courageous, and decisive actions had helped facilitate the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, thereby averting what he called a potential ‘major catastrophe’ in South Asia,” Geo TV cited Pakistani PMO statement saying.It further said that Sharif expressed his “deep admiration” for Trump, describing him as a “man of peace” for his efforts to end conflicts around the world. Trump, himself has claimed that he has stopped seven wars around the world.Moreover, Sharif invited Trump to visit Pakistan and thanked him for tariff agreement between the two nations.”Sharif thanked Trump for the US-Pakistan tariff arrangement concluded earlier this year and invited American companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, information technology, mining and energy sectors,” the statement said, according to AP. “Both leaders also discussed counterterrorism cooperation, with Sharif expressing appreciation for Trump’s endorsement of Pakistan’s role in combating extremism. Sharif extended an invitation for Trump to make an official visit to Pakistan,” it added.India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. The offensive triggered four days of clashes, which came to an end on May 10 following a ceasefire request from Pakistan’s DGMO.