“I Don’t Want to Say I Did…”: Trump Hints at Role in India-Pakistan Ceasefire Mediation

Washington: Former US President Donald Trump on Thursday tempered his assertion of directly mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but maintained he played a role in defusing rising tensions during Operation Sindoor.

Speaking during a public address to American troops stationed at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump remarked, “I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between India and Pakistan last week, which was becoming more and more hostile. All of a sudden, you saw missiles of different types. We got it settled, and I hope when I walk out of here two days later, I don’t find out it is not settled.”

Trump, who is currently on a tour of Gulf nations, claimed that the United States promoted trade over war in its diplomatic efforts. “We talked to them about trade. I said let’s do trade instead of war. Both India and Pakistan were very happy with that. They have been fighting for about a thousand years. I said I could settle this up. I can settle anything,” he added confidently.

However, India has firmly contradicted Trump’s version of events.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), clarified on Tuesday that no trade-related discussions took place between Indian and US leaders during the crisis. “From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions,” Jaiswal stated in a press briefing.

The Indian government has maintained that the ceasefire with Pakistan was a result of India achieving its strategic goals, as previously detailed by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and not due to third-party mediation.