By Foreign Affairs Correspondent
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly thanked US President Donald Trump for his decision to temporarily pause “Project Freedom,” a highly contentious American naval initiative aimed at guiding stranded commercial vessels through the volatile Strait of Hormuz.
The pause comes directly in response to diplomatic interventions from Pakistan and other key regional allies, notably the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who feared the operation was bringing the region to the brink of a wider maritime war.
Taking to the social media platform X, Prime Minister Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the sudden shift in Washington’s naval strategy, framing it as a vital step toward salvaging ongoing peace negotiations with Tehran.
“I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz,” Sharif posted on X.
The Prime Minister went on to note that Trump’s “gracious response” to the requests made by Pakistan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would “go a long way toward advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period.”
The development follows an abrupt policy pivot by President Trump, who announced via Truth Social that the United States would halt the operation just 24 hours after it was officially launched.
”Project Freedom” was unveiled by the White House as a “humanitarian gesture” designed to deploy US naval and air assets to escort hundreds of third-party commercial ships. These vessels have been trapped in the Persian Gulf due to shifting blockades and hostilities.
However, the initiative immediately hyper-escalated regional tensions. The Iranian government warned that American intervention in the strait violated existing territorial understandings, and reports quickly surfaced of direct skirmishes between US forces and Iranian fast-attack boats.
In his announcement of the pause, Trump cited the direct diplomatic appeals from Islamabad as a primary reason for stepping back, noting that “great progress” was being made toward a final agreement with Iran. Despite the pause on the escort mission, the White House clarified that the US military blockade on Iranian ports remains firmly in place to maintain economic pressure on Tehran.
To understand the weight of Sharif’s gratitude, the current crisis must be viewed through the lens of the rapid escalation that defined the opening months of 2026.
The conflict erupted on February 28, 2026, following a series of highly destructive joint US-Israeli military strikes against targets inside Iran.
Tehran retaliated by mining and effectively choking off the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical maritime chokepoint, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption passes. The closure sent global energy markets into a tailspin and stranded billions of dollars worth of commercial shipping.
Pakistan, which shares a direct land border with Iran, quickly found itself in a precarious geopolitical position. Desperate to prevent a total collapse of regional security, Islamabad stepped into the role of mediator.
On April 8, 2026, following intense diplomatic maneuvering by Prime Minister Sharif and Pakistani military leadership, Washington and Tehran agreed to a fragile ceasefire. Crucially, Pakistan offered to host comprehensive peace negotiations in Islamabad to finalize a sustainable, long-term settlement.
The launch of “Project Freedom” earlier this week threatened to completely derail the Islamabad peace track. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that while Washington’s offensive phase—dubbed Operation Epic Fury—had concluded, defensive maneuvers in the Strait were still on a hair-trigger.
The temporary suspension of the ship-escort program breathes vital oxygen back into the diplomatic process. For Pakistan, the stakes could not be higher.
Beyond the immediate threat of a regional war on its western border, the economic fallout of prolonged disruptions in the Gulf poses a severe threat to South Asian supply chains.
Concluding his statements, Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan remains fully dedicated to seeing the peace process through to the end.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,”
Sharif stated, adding that he is highly optimistic the current momentum will yield a lasting agreement securing durable peace for the region and the wider world.
