Pakistan PM Backs Trump for Nobel Peace Prize as Laureate Navi Pillay Jokes About Sharing Award

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that US President Donald Trump would win the Nobel Peace Prize, but the 2026 award was instead presented to former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.

Hours before the Nobel Committee announced its decision in Norway, Sharif reiterated that Pakistan had nominated Trump for the honour, crediting him with helping promote peace in South Asia. However, the committee selected Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist of Indian Tamil origin, for her contributions to peace and international law.

Following the announcement, Pillay made a light-hearted remark about Trump while receiving applause in a video shared by Amnesty International’s secretary general.

“If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump!” she joked.

Trump later shared a post on his Truth Social platform from a lawyer who described Pillay as a “hater” and argued that the award had been demeaned.

In a post on X ahead of the announcement, Sharif praised Trump’s role in advancing peace in South Asia. He said the US president’s intervention had helped prevent further escalation between India and Pakistan and contributed to a ceasefire that remains in place.

India, however, has repeatedly rejected Trump’s assertion that he mediated the end of hostilities between the two neighbouring countries in May 2025. New Delhi maintains that the ceasefire was reached through direct communication between India and Pakistan, without third-party mediation.

Trump had previously acknowledged that he was unlikely to receive this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. On Wednesday, however, he said he had received the honour indirectly, referring to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the 2025 laureate, who presented him with her medal at the White House in January.

The Nobel Committee has clarified that the prize cannot be transferred to another person or shared after it has been awarded.

Why Navi Pillay Won the Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Committee selected Pillay in recognition of her work promoting peace and international law. Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes announced the decision in Oslo, Norway.

According to the committee, Pillay played a significant role in advancing accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

A former judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Pillay subsequently served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She also worked as a defence lawyer for Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. She continues to work as a jurist and lawyer associated with the ICC.

The Nobel Peace Prize carries an award of 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately US$1.2 million. The ceremony is scheduled for December 10 in Oslo.

Who Is Eligible to Nominate Candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Under the Nobel Foundation’s rules, nominations may be submitted only by eligible individuals and organisations. These include members of national governments and parliaments, heads of state, judges of international courts in The Hague, certain university professors, directors of peace and foreign policy research institutes, and previous Nobel laureates.

Self-nominations are not permitted.

Pakistan announced several times last year that it had nominated Trump for the award. Cambodia and Israel have also said they nominated the US president.

The Nobel Committee does not confirm or deny individual nominations while the relevant records remain confidential. Reports indicated that 287 candidates were registered for the 2026 award, comprising 208 individuals and 79 organisations.

Nominations close on January 31 each year. A five-member committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament then prepares a shortlist, generally comprising 20 to 30 candidates, for evaluation with assistance from its permanent advisers. The winner is selected by consensus or, if necessary, by majority vote. The committee’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

India Rejects Trump’s Mediation Claim

India has consistently disputed Trump’s claim that he brokered the understanding announced on May 10, 2025, which brought an end to four days of fighting between India and Pakistan.

On May 13, 2025, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ceasefire had been agreed directly between the two countries, without third-party involvement.

A month later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had informed Trump during a telephone conversation that the ceasefire had been reached at Pakistan’s request.

According to the Indian government, Modi also made clear that India did not accept, and would never accept, mediation in its dealings with Pakistan.

Trump has repeatedly claimed to have mediated between India and Pakistan, reportedly making the assertion around 80 times since May 2025.