By International Desk | June 21, 2025
Islamabad:
In a controversial diplomatic gesture, a senior Pakistani senator has officially nominated former U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “decisive role” in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan during the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis. The move has reignited debate over the extent of Trump’s involvement in defusing the near-conflict and drawn sharp reactions in India.
The nomination, reportedly submitted by Senator Azam Swati, praises Trump’s intervention and diplomatic pressure during the standoff that followed India’s airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan. The airstrike came in retaliation for the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.
According to Swati, “President Donald Trump’s backchannel efforts and timely appeal for restraint were instrumental in preventing a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed neighbors. His contribution merits recognition by the international community.”
Trump himself has long claimed credit for preventing what he called an “imminent war” between India and Pakistan. “I’ll tell you what, you would’ve had a war if it weren’t for me,” Trump said at a 2020 campaign rally. He has repeated similar claims in interviews and public speeches.
However, New Delhi has consistently downplayed or outright rejected this narrative. Indian officials maintain that it was India’s firm military response and diplomatic leverage that compelled Pakistan to seek de-escalation. “There was no mediation. India acted in self-defense, and Pakistan responded under pressure,” said a former Indian diplomat, speaking anonymously to The Hindu.
In the days following the Balakot airstrike, Pakistan had retaliated by attempting airstrikes of its own, which led to the downing of an Indian fighter jet and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The pilot’s release shortly thereafter was seen by many as a de-escalatory move, though its motivations remain debated.
International reactions to the nomination have been mixed. A report by The Washington Post notes that while Trump did call for “restraint” during the standoff, there is limited public evidence of significant mediation efforts by the U.S. administration at the time.
Foreign policy experts also remain skeptical. “This nomination appears more political than substantive,” said Michael Kugelman, South Asia Director at the Wilson Center, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Trump’s role was marginal. The real deterrents were mutual nuclear capability and global diplomatic pressure, especially from China and the Gulf nations.”
The Nobel Committee has yet to comment on the nomination, which will be one among hundreds typically submitted each year. Nominations do not equate to endorsements by the committee, and the criteria for awarding the Peace Prize remain highly competitive and confidential.
Background Context:
Pulwama Attack (Feb 14, 2019): A suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary forces in Kashmir.
Balakot Airstrike (Feb 26, 2019): India conducted air raids on a terror training camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Retaliation and Capture (Feb 27, 2019): Pakistan captured an Indian pilot during a skirmish. He was released on March 1, 2019.
International Reaction: The U.S., China, and other global powers called for restraint; the situation de-escalated shortly after.
As the Nobel Peace Prize deliberations continue, Trump’s nomination is likely to draw further scrutiny amid ongoing regional tensions and questions about the role of major powers in South Asia’s security dynamics.
