Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 14: In a high-profile interview aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump claimed that his administration played a pivotal role in defusing escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and even nudged both nations toward peace and prospective trade agreements. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that trade was not part of any bilateral conversation during the recent military standoff.
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, President Trump said, "I think we convinced them (India and Pakistan) to let's have peace and let's go and make trade deals. If we can make trade deals, we like that much better than nuclear weapons." He emphasized that diplomatic negotiations and trade cooperation are preferable to any nuclear confrontation and praised both nations’ leadership.
Reflecting on the critical days of heightened military engagement, Trump remarked, “There hasn’t been a period like this. We stopped what could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions could have been killed. I’m proud of the role my administration played in securing an immediate and possibly permanent cessation of hostilities."
The US President credited Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their efforts in brokering peace and reiterated, "If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade."
However, the Indian government promptly issued a clarification. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to media queries, stated that discussions with US officials focused strictly on the evolving military situation, not trade.
"From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," Jaiswal affirmed.
India’s Operation Sindoor was a precision counter-strike mission targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoJK, launched in response to the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Over 100 terrorists were reported neutralized in the operation, followed by intense military exchanges along the border.
While President Trump’s statement positions the US as a peace facilitator, Indian officials maintained that the ceasefire was a bilateral understanding between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations, reached independently.
The evolving narrative underscores the delicate balance in India-Pakistan relations and reflects the differing interpretations of foreign involvement in regional security matters.