WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his role in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, saying that he “settled” a cross-border exchange of fire through the leverage of trade.
The US president’s remarks came during a recent meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Trump’s latest comments follow earlier statements this month in which he suggested he “helped” achieve a ceasefire along the volatile border. This claim has been met with silence from New Delhi but acknowledgement and thanks from Islamabad.
“If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India. We settled that whole, and I think I settled it through trade,” Trump told Ramaphosa, highlighting ongoing major trade deals with both nations. He recounted questioning both sides, “And I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’”
The escalation followed New Delhi’s “Operation Sindoor,” leading to retaliatory cross-border firing from Pakistan.
Trump described the situation as “getting worse and worse, bigger and bigger, deeper and deeper into the country.” He stated, “And we spoke to them, and I think we, you know, I hate to say we got it settled, and then two days later, something happens, and they say it’s Trump’s fault.”
While India falsely claims that Pakistan had violated the US-facilitated ceasefire hours after Trump announced it, the US president praised the leadership of both nations.
“But… Pakistan has got some excellent people and some really good, great leader. And India is my friend, Modi,” he said, to which President Ramaphosa reportedly responded, “Modi, mutual friend.”
While Pakistan has publicly credited Trump for his intervention, India has yet to offer confirmation of his direct role in halting the exchange of fire.
