Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose multiple tours in office have been tumultuous, is under severe political pressure back home. | AP Photo Trump calls Pakistani prime minister a ‘terrific guy’

President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a telephone call on Monday, during which he offered to “play any role” to “find solutions to the outstanding problems,” according to a readout from Pakistan’s official news agency.

“I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. “It will be an honor and I will personally do it.”


Sharif made the call to congratulate the billionaire president-elect on his victory earlier this month, according to the APP, citing Sharif’s media office.

Trump reportedly had high praise for both Sharif and the people of Pakistan, calling the prime minister a “terrific guy” with a “very good reputation.”

“As I am talking to you, prime minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long,” Trump reportedly said. “Your country is amazing, with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people.”

Trump also asked Sharif to convey to the Pakistani people that “they are amazing” and that “all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people.” The president-elect also suggested he would be willing to visit Pakistan, according to the readout.

"On being invited to visit Pakistan by the Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people," the Pakistani government's account said.

The Trump transition team provided its own readout late Wednesday. "President-elect Trump and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spoke today and had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future," the statement read. "President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif."

Sharif, whose multiple tours in office have been tumultuous, is under severe political pressure back home.

Earlier this month, Pakistan's Supreme Court said a commission would investigate corruption allegations against the prime minister. His children's financial holdings were listed in the Panama Papers that were leaked to the public earlier this year. On Wednesday, the court questioned Sharif and his family's hiding of documents that allegedly reveal their massive wealth abroad, according to an account in the Times of India.

Last month, in an interview with the Hindustan Times, Trump said that he would “love to be the mediator or arbitrator” in the dispute between India and Pakistan “if they wanted me to,” also saying, “We will have to be very, very strong with respect to radical Islamic terrorism.”

“Well, I would love to see Pakistan and India get along, because that’s a very, very hot tinderbox,” he added. “That would be a very great thing. I hope they can do it.”

Pakistan has often called on outside parties, such as the United States or the United Nations, to mediate its dispute with India over control of Kashmir — and India has just has often rejected the idea.

In 2013, India’s foreign minister said there was “no way” Indian would agree to U.S. mediation. As for India’s hold on Kashmir, he said, ”It is a waste of time for anybody no matter how eminent to be even trying to question it.”