United States President Donald Trump may have unintentionally skipped one person’s name while outlining his latest vision for a sweeping reconfiguration of the Middle East. In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump urged Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords after the Iran war ends. However, while naming a plethora of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and Kings, he completely skipped Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif.
What is truly shocking is that the US President named Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir among the leaders he spoke to over the weekend and completely skipped Shehbaz Sharif’s name in his social media post. The hard-to-miss omission has since reignited debate over who actually holds power in Islamabad.
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Elected Pakistani PM nowhere in the list
Trump wrote that during discussions with regional leaders, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he had urged that all leaders should “simultaneously” sign on to the Abraham Accords. However, Pakistan’s elected prime minister’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the list.
A reality-check for Pakistan
The American President’s message felt more like a reality check inside the country: that Pakistan’s military establishment continues to exert far stronger influence than its elected government, particularly on foreign policy and national security matters.
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Who really holds power in Pakistan?
Trump’s remarks came as he pushed several Muslim-majority countries to officially recognise Israel under the Abraham Accords framework initially brokered during his previous term. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt were listed as potential participants as part of a sweeping regional reshuffle connected to ongoing talks with Iran.
Unlike the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Pakistan has never recognised Tel Aviv and has typically linked its diplomatic relations to Palestinian statehood. Trump’s proposal has placed Pakistan in an extraordinarily awkward position. For the elected government, this could be politically devastating, but for the Islamabad military, it may open doors to seize power again.
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First published on: May 26, 2026 10:20 AM IST
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Sheetal Prasad
Sheetal Prasad is a news author with 1.5 years of experience in journalism. She covers a diverse range of topics, including politics, entertainment, and trending news, ensuring her readers stay informed about the latest developments. Sheetal holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Adamas University, West Bengal, which has equipped her with essential storytelling skills. Previously, she worked as a news journalist at Odisha TV. In addition to her articles, Sheetal manages a live blog that offers real-time updates on breaking news and trending stories. This interactive platform allows her audience to engage with the news as it unfolds, enhancing their understanding of significant issues. Every article she writes is rigorously verified by the News Desk team before publication, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Sheetal is committed to delivering trustworthy information, making her a dependable source for readers seeking quality content. When she’s not writing, Sheetal enjoys creating content for her YouTube channel and watching podcasts and interviews with renowned personalities. You can connect with her on Instagram for more insights and updates.
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