In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during the inaugural session of the Board of Peace held in Washington on February 19, 2026. Trump described PM Shehbaz as a leader he 'likes' and commended Field Marshal Munir as a 'tough, good fighter,' emphasizing their roles in stabilizing the tense relations between Pakistan and India following the military escalation in May 2025. Trump stated, 'I said, “25 million lives? Could have been much more, actually,”' referring to the potential casualties had the conflict escalated further. He claimed that his administration's diplomatic intervention, including the threat of imposing 200% tariffs on India, played a crucial role in achieving a ceasefire, averting a major crisis between the nuclear-armed neighbors.