International: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reignited diplomatic controversy by claiming he was responsible for defusing the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, citing ongoing trade talks as a pivotal factor in bringing both nuclear-armed neighbours to the negotiating table.
The remarks, made during an Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have drawn sharp rebuttals from Indian officials.
“If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India. We settled that whole thing, and I think I settled it through trade,” Trump said, referring to the tense standoff that followed the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. India responded with a series of targeted strikes under “Operation Sindoor,” hitting nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A ceasefire agreement between the two countries was reached shortly after the operation.
Trump portrayed himself as a key broker of peace. “Somebody had to be the last one to shoot,” he said. “The shooting was getting worse and worse, deeper into the countries. We spoke to them, and I think we got it settled.” He also praised ongoing bilateral trade discussions, asserting they played a role in lowering the temperature in the region. “We’re doing a big deal with India. We’re doing a big deal with Pakistan,” he added.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump further claimed credit, posting: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence.”
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs swiftly dismissed the claim. “The trade issue did not come up in any discussions with Washington during the conflict,” read the statement from New Delhi. Indian officials reiterated that the military action and subsequent de-escalation were entirely domestically driven and part of the country’s counterterrorism strategy. “No external mediation was involved,” the statement said.
Despite the denial, Trump went on to compliment both countries and their leaders. “Pakistan has some excellent people and a great leader. And India — my friend Modi — he’s a great guy. I called them both. We just did something good.”
Trump’s remarks are the latest in a series of foreign policy assertions that have either surprised or been publicly contradicted by America’s international partners. While some observers interpret his comments as political posturing ahead of elections, others warn they risk misrepresenting delicate international matters, especially in volatile regions like South Asia.
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