In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following India's Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump has claimed that his administration played a crucial role in brokering a ceasefire between the two nations and offered to help with trade. Trump stated that trade was a significant factor in de-escalating the conflict, suggesting that the prospect of increased trade with both countries incentivized them to halt hostilities.

Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian military in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation involved cross-border military strikes targeting terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. These strikes led to a period of intense strikes and counter-strikes between the two countries, using drones, missiles, and other long-range weapons.

On May 10, 2025, Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate ceasefire". He credited his administration with brokering this understanding, stating that he had told both countries he was going to do a lot of trade with them, and they should stop fighting. He also claimed that the ceasefire would be permanent.

However, India has presented a different perspective on the situation. According to Indian sources, the understanding to cease military actions was reached bilaterally by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. They have also refuted Trump's claim that trade was discussed during high-level conversations between US and Indian officials. Sources indicate that while senior US leaders, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, held multiple conversations with their Indian counterparts, these discussions were focused on the tensions between India and Pakistan and did not involve any trade-related matters.

Despite India's rebuttal, Trump has maintained his stance, praising the leadership of both India and Pakistan for their restraint and awareness of the risks involved. He stated that he believed the ceasefire would hold indefinitely. Trump also mentioned that he had suspended customized tariffs of 26% on India until July.

The US President's announcement of the ceasefire before any formal statement from the Indian side reportedly "has not gone down well in New Delhi". However, the cessation of hostilities was confirmed by India shortly after Trump's announcement.

While the exact nature of the US role in achieving the ceasefire remains a subject of differing accounts, the halt in military actions has been welcomed as a positive step towards de-escalation. Whether trade played a role in the process is still debated, but Trump's offer to help India and Pakistan with trade and his administration's claim of brokering the ceasefire remain significant aspects of the situation.