Key Points
- President Trump again claimed credit for helping mediate the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a major escalation, saying his administration used trade as leverage to avert war.
- Trump told US troops in Qatar that both India and Pakistan were “very happy” with US intervention, and he suggested trade talks as an alternative to conflict.
- India has firmly denied any US mediation or trade leverage, stating the ceasefire was achieved solely through direct military-to-military channels.
- Trump’s remarks have sparked diplomatic friction, with India reiterating its longstanding policy of no third-party involvement in its disputes with Pakistan.
- The US initially portrayed the ceasefire as a major diplomatic achievement, but Trump has since softened his tone amid pushback from New Delhi.
Doha: US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that his administration played a pivotal role in brokering the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following one of the most dangerous escalations in decades after the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to American military personnel at the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump said, “I don’t wanna say I did but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week, which was getting more and more hostile and all of a sudden you’ll start seeing missiles of a different type and we got it settled. I hope I don’t walk out of here and two days later find out that it is not settled, but I think it is settled”.
“Let’s Do Trade Instead of War”: Trump’s Mediation Pitch
Trump claimed that his administration used trade as a diplomatic tool to push both countries toward peace. “And we talked to them about trade. Let’s do trade instead of war. And Pakistan was very happy with that, and India was very happy with that and I think they are on the way. They have been fighting for about a thousand years, in all fairness. I said I could settle that up. I could settle anything. Let me settle it up. Let’s get them all together,” Trump told the crowd, suggesting that economic incentives played a key role in de-escalating the crisis.
He added that the situation was on the brink of spiraling out of control, hinting at the risk of a “different type” of missile exchange, but credited US intervention for averting a larger conflict.
India Rejects Claims of US Mediation
Despite Trump’s repeated assertions, the Indian government has categorically denied any third-party involvement in the ceasefire agreement. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the ceasefire was achieved directly through military-to-military channels between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan, without US mediation or trade discussions. India has consistently maintained that all outstanding issues with Pakistan, including Kashmir, are strictly bilateral and not open to external mediation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that the agreement for an immediate cessation of hostilities came after four days of intense cross-border exchanges, and emphasized that the decision was made independently by both countries.
Diplomatic Fallout and Political Sensitivities
Trump’s public claims have caused discomfort in New Delhi, with Indian officials wary of any suggestion that external pressure influenced their military decisions. Analysts note that Trump’s “balanced” remarks and references to future negotiations over Kashmir have further complicated US-India relations, as India sees Kashmir as a non-negotiable, internal issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address after Operation Sindoor, reiterated that India would only engage with Pakistan on the issues of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, ruling out any broader diplomatic dialogue or third-party mediation.
US Softens Tone Amid Indian Pushback
After initially portraying the ceasefire as a major US diplomatic victory, Trump has since moderated his statements, saying, “I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped,” and expressing hope that the agreement will hold. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have echoed Trump’s claims but have also acknowledged the sensitive nature of India’s position on external mediation.
Trump’s latest remarks highlight ongoing tensions over third-party involvement in South Asia, underscoring the delicate balance between diplomatic claims and ground realities as India and Pakistan navigate a fragile peace.
