Trump praises PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces General Asim Munir — again. The US President has now publicly credited Pakistan’s leadership multiple times for brokering the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the 14-point framework agreement between the United States and Iran that ended their military conflict. For Pakistan, this is not flattery. This is strategic recognition from the most powerful country on earth.
According to the Express Tribune, PM Shehbaz Sharif formally signed the Islamabad MOU as mediator — the first time Pakistan’s Prime Minister has signed a document of this geopolitical magnitude as a neutral broker between two world powers.
Why Trump Praising PM Shehbaz for the Islamabad MOU Matters
The praise carries weight that extends beyond good manners. It signals that Washington views Islamabad as a serious strategic partner — a sharp reversal from Trump’s first term, when Pakistan was publicly criticised over counterterrorism cooperation and aid suspensions.
According to Dawn’s analysis, the Islamabad MOU paves the way for a broader 60-day negotiation period that US Vice President JD Vance confirmed began on Thursday. Pakistan’s mediating team — PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar — navigated months of intense back-channel diplomacy that produced the deal signed at Versailles this week.
Even India’s opposition has acknowledged Pakistan’s achievement. According to Tribune India, Indian Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the very naming of the agreement as the “Islamabad MOU” highlighted Pakistan’s enhanced standing in regional and global affairs. When India’s own opposition praises Pakistan’s diplomacy, it is a moment worth noting.
National Assembly Endorses Pakistan’s Historic Role
Back home, Pakistan’s parliament has formally recognised the achievement. According to Dawn, the National Assembly adopted a resolution lauding the role of Pakistan’s leadership in the US-Iran agreement.
This resolution is not purely ceremonial. It creates a permanent parliamentary record of Pakistan’s mediating role — strengthening Islamabad’s credentials as a neutral broker in future regional disputes. Pakistan’s earlier mediation missions through FM Naqvi’s Tehran visit have now culminated in a formal, named international agreement.
Meanwhile, FM Dar has departed for Cairo to attend the R-4 foreign ministers meeting, where the Islamabad MOU will be a central topic. Pakistan is converting the momentum of this deal into expanded diplomatic reach across the Middle East and North Africa.
Switzerland Technical Talks Begin Sunday
The praise from Trump comes at a critical implementation moment. Pakistan confirms that technical talks to operationalise the US-Iran deal will be held in Switzerland on Sunday. According to Dawn, PM Shehbaz described the Islamabad MOU as “landmark” in a call with Iranian President Pezeshkian, saying it will “go a long way” in rebuilding Iran.
Interior Minister Naqvi has also arrived in Mashhad to discuss ongoing US-Iran negotiations — a signal that Pakistan is not stepping back from its mediating role. Islamabad is staying at the table for the entire 60-day negotiation window.
The Israel Factor: Biggest Risk to Trump’s Praise Becoming Reality
Not everyone is on board. According to Wikipedia’s Islamabad Memorandum entry, Israeli PM Netanyahu said Israel is “not bound by the agreement” and will “preserve its freedom of action” against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Overnight Israeli strikes on the Nabatieh area of Lebanon — destroying residential buildings and killing four members of one family — confirm the Lebanon front remains active. The MOU explicitly calls for termination of military operations including in Lebanon. Israel is not complying. That gap is the central risk to everything PM Shehbaz and General Munir built.
The PSX rally to 180,511 and the Rs55 petrol cut announced Thursday are built on the assumption the deal holds. Pakistan has both a diplomatic and an economic stake in the next 60 days.
What This Means for Pakistan
For everyday Pakistanis, Trump praising PM Shehbaz over the Islamabad MOU translates into three tangible outcomes. First, Washington’s goodwill can smooth Pakistan’s next IMF programme review, currently scheduled for the coming months. Second, Pakistan’s relationship with Iran — its neighbour and a potential energy partner — is now stronger than at any point in the last decade. Third, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz directly stabilises Pakistan’s oil import costs.
The name Islamabad is permanently attached to a document that ended a war. That is the definition of diplomatic capital.
What Happens Next
Sunday’s Switzerland technical talks are the first real test of implementation. If both sides show up and progress is made on the Hormuz timeline, sanctions waivers, and nuclear freeze verification, the 60-day clock ticks productively. If Israel’s Lebanon operations cause Iran to walk out, the window closes fast.
24PakTimes will report on the Switzerland talks and every development in the Islamabad MOU process.
FAQ — Trump Praises PM Shehbaz Islamabad MOU
Why did Trump praise PM Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir?
Trump praised Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and CDF General Asim Munir for their central role in brokering the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding — the 14-point US-Iran peace framework. The Pakistani mediating team of Shehbaz, Munir, and FM Ishaq Dar led months of back-channel negotiations that produced the deal.
What did Pakistan’s National Assembly do regarding the Islamabad MOU?
Pakistan’s National Assembly adopted a formal resolution praising the country’s leadership for their role in the US-Iran peace agreement. This creates a permanent parliamentary record of Pakistan’s mediating achievement and strengthens Islamabad’s credentials as a neutral diplomatic broker.
What are the Switzerland talks and when do they start?
Technical talks to implement the Islamabad MOU are scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Sunday, June 21. These talks will focus on operational details including the Strait of Hormuz reopening timeline, sanctions waivers implementation, and the nuclear freeze verification process.
What is the biggest risk to the Islamabad MOU’s success?
The greatest risk is Israel’s refusal to consider itself bound by the agreement. The MOU explicitly calls for an end to military operations in Lebanon, but Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated Israel will “preserve its freedom of action.” Overnight Israeli strikes on Nabatieh killed four people from one family — directly contradicting the MOU’s terms.
