By The Sampadak Express
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for preventing a full-blown conflict between India and Pakistan, saying he warned both nations that the U.S. would halt trade negotiations if the fighting continued.
Speaking at a press briefing after the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said he played a key role in defusing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours during a recent flare-up.”
Maybe the most important of all, India and Pakistan,” Trump said. “It wasn’t about whether or not they have nukes like what we’re discussing in the Middle East with Israel and Iran. I told them clearly if you’re going to fight each other, we’re not doing any trade deals.”
Trump claimed that during a series of phone calls with Indian and Pakistani leaders amid escalating drone and missile strikes, he delivered a blunt message: “We’re not doing a trade deal if you’re going to go to war.”
He said that both countries were eager for trade relations with the U.S., and that his firm stance made them back down. “I got them to reason. They said, ‘No, we want to do the trade deal.’ And we stopped the nuclear war,” Trump asserted.
He also revealed that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir visited his office recently, calling him “very impressive,” and reiterated his strong personal ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he described as “a great gentleman” and “a great friend.”
India and Pakistan had reached a ceasefire understanding on May 10, after four days of heightened hostilities involving cross-border strikes.
However, Indian officials have consistently rejected any suggestion of external mediation. According to the Indian government, the decision to de-escalate was taken through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, and at Pakistan’s own request.
Prime Minister Modi, during a recent 35-minute phone conversation with Trump, reportedly reaffirmed that India “does not and will never accept mediation” on bilateral matters.
This isn’t the first time Trump has claimed to have mediated peace between India and Pakistan. While his assertions continue to make headlines, New Delhi maintains that the resolution of such issues lies strictly between the two nations.
