US President Donald Trump on Friday praised Pakistan’s political and military leadership and called the country “great” during a media interaction focused on regional peace and diplomacy.
Trump described Pakistan’s top officials as “excellent” and credited them for encouraging restraint during sensitive negotiations in the region.
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“Pakistan is a great country and they have excellent leadership,” Trump said. “The prime minister and the field marshal are outstanding personalities.”
The US president also claimed that “Project Freedom” stopped after discussions with Pakistan’s leadership. He did not provide further details about the initiative or explain its scope.
According to Trump, Pakistani officials urged calm during diplomatic engagement and asked all sides to pause actions while talks continued.
“Pakistan’s leadership asked for restraint during the talks,” Trump said. “They wanted things stopped during the diplomatic process.”
Trump highlights trade over conflict
Trump used the interaction to repeat his long-standing argument that economic cooperation can reduce tensions and prevent conflicts.
“I am a proponent of peace across the world,” Trump said. “I stopped wars through trade.”
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Donald Trump said he paused “Project Freedom” at the request of the Pakistan government.He warned that if progress is not made, the US could return to the initiative with an expanded version called “Project Freedom Plus.” pic.twitter.com/HJwGd1DoW6
— Muhammad Noman (@MianJournalist) May 9, 2026
The Republican leader added that the United States preferred economic cooperation over military escalation. He said stable trade relations remained central to his foreign policy vision.
“I like stopping wars,” Trump remarked. “Trade is better than conflict.”
Trump has often promoted trade diplomacy during both his presidential terms. He frequently argues that stronger economic partnerships discourage military confrontations between rival states.
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Analysts say his latest comments reflect Washington’s interest in maintaining stability in South Asia. The region continues to face security and geopolitical challenges.
Afghanistan remarks attract attention
During the media exchange, Trump also referred to reports about possible tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said Pakistan’s leadership handled the situation “swiftly and peacefully” and prevented further escalation.
The US president did not explain the nature of the reported dispute. Islamabad and Kabul also did not issue immediate official responses.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced periodic border tensions in recent years. Militancy, cross-border attacks and refugee movements remain major sources of friction between the neighbours.
Islamabad has repeatedly called for stronger cooperation with Kabul on counterterrorism and border management.
Relations between Washington and Islamabad have also changed in recent years after disagreements over Afghanistan policy following the US withdrawal in 2021. Despite those tensions, both countries continue diplomatic engagement through security, trade and regional stability talks.
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Trump’s latest comments are likely to draw attention in Islamabad and Washington. Pakistan continues to seek stronger economic and strategic partnerships while managing regional security challenges.
Political analysts in Pakistan described Trump’s remarks as an important diplomatic signal. They pointed to his public praise for the country’s civil and military leadership during a period of geopolitical uncertainty in South Asia.
