Former Pakistani Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, took a direct jab at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, crowning him the gold medalist in the “Olympic Sport of flattering Trump.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Haqqani’s sarcastic post on X came after Sharif issued his latest effusive praise for Donald Trump, crediting the former US President for the recently signed Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand.
In his post, Sharif had lauded Trump’s “instrumental role in advancing global peace,” mentioning the KL Accord, the Gaza Peace Plan, and his efforts in the Middle East and South Asia. He even congratulated Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim alongside Trump.
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, at the Peace Summit in Egypt, Sharif called Trump “a man of peace,” “a great president,” and reminded the audience that Pakistan had previously nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, stating, “I genuinely feel he is the most genuine and most wonderful candidate for the Peace Prize.”
Haqqani’s reaction crystallized the widespread perception of Sharif’s repeated public admiration: “Pakistan’s PM still in the lead for Gold in what @FareedZakaria surmised might be the Olympic Sport of flattering Trump,” he wrote.
In a move that sparked immediate mockery, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has doubled down on his public adoration for Donald Trump, prompting a former diplomat to award him an imaginary gold medal.
Ex-Pakistani envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani, took to X to suggest Sharif was the clear frontrunner in the “Olympic Sport of flattering Trump,” a phrase originally coined by journalist Fareed Zakaria.
The jibe followed Sharif’s post on X, where he credited Trump for playing an “instrumental role” in the new Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand, listing it alongside the Gaza Peace Plan as evidence of Trump’s global peacekeeping efforts that are “saving millions of lives.”
Sharif’s pattern of praise is becoming a trademark of his foreign policy. He previously called Trump “a man of peace” and a “great president” at the Peace Summit in Egypt, where he highlighted Pakistan’s past nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. This strategy—often dubbed “flattery diplomacy”—suggests an effort to cultivate influence with a potentially returning US leader.
Haqqani’s pointed response highlights the perceived excessiveness of this strategy: “Pakistan’s PM still in the lead for Gold in what @FareedZakaria surmised might be the Olympic Sport of flattering Trump.”
Ex-Envoy Mocks PM Sharif for Trump Flattery: “Gold Medal Winner”
Former Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani has sarcastically awarded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a gold medal, crowning him the winner of the “Olympic Sport of flattering Trump.”
The jibe came after Sharif’s latest gush of praise on X, where he credited Donald Trump for the new Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand, along with the Gaza Peace Plan.
Sharif’s post read: “My deep appreciation to President Donald Trump for his instrumental role in advancing peace… saving millions of lives across the globe.”
Haqqani’s viral retort perfectly summarized the sentiment around Sharif’s repeated praise: “Pakistan’s PM still in the lead for Gold in what @FareedZakaria surmised might be the Olympic Sport of flattering Trump.” Sharif had previously advocated for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
