Washington, D.C. [US], May 31 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that he played a key role in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan, claiming that trade negotiations were instrumental in persuading both countries to de-escalate. Speaking from the Oval Office during an event commemorating Elon Musk’s departure from his advisory role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump said, “We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe that could have turned out into a nuclear disaster, and I want to thank the leaders of India and Pakistan, and I want to thank my people. Also, we talk trade, and we say we can’t trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons. They’re great leaders in those countries, and they understood and they agreed.”
Trump’s comments come amid ongoing international discourse on the influence of foreign powers in recent peace efforts between the South Asian neighbors.
India, however, has reiterated that the decision to cease hostilities with Pakistan was a direct outcome of military-to-military dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the ceasefire agreement came into effect on May 10 following communications between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that while there were conversations between Indian and U.S. leaders during the period of military tension that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, trade and tariff issues were not part of those discussions. “Our position on this particular issue has been well articulated. I would refer you to our position that was made clear on May 13. From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and U.S. leaders on the evolving military situation,” Jaiswal said. “The issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions. The External Affairs Minister has also made it clear that the cessation of firing was decided upon through direct contact with the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.”
Operation Sindoor was launched by India in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation involved precision strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). India successfully repelled retaliatory Pakistani aggression and struck at their airbases. The ceasefire agreement was finalized after Pakistan’s DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart, culminating in an understanding to stop further military engagement.
(ANI)
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