President Donald Trump stated on Monday, May 12, 2025, that the United States is prepared to assist India and Pakistan following a recent ceasefire agreement, which he claims his administration helped broker. Trump suggested that trade played a significant role in de-escalating tensions between the two countries, making this assertion during an event at the White House.

Trump stated that the U.S. didn't just broker a ceasefire but averted a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. He claimed to have told both Indian and Pakistani leadership to stop the hostilities, conditioning trade relations on their agreement. According to Trump, the U.S. is currently negotiating trade with India and plans to start trade negotiations with Pakistan as well.

However, government sources have contradicted Trump's claims, stating that trade was not mentioned during discussions between Indian and U.S. officials regarding de-escalation last week. A source from New Delhi emphasized that there was "no reference to trade" in any discussions with U.S. officials during the conflict. New Delhi subtly pushed back on the U.S. claim of mediating the ceasefire, clarifying that the Director General of Military Operations of India received a call from his Pakistani counterpart, leading to a mutual understanding to halt military actions.

Trump's and his administration's claims about brokering the ceasefire and offering to resolve the Kashmir dispute contrast with New Delhi's stance that the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration preclude third-party involvement in resolving issues between India and Pakistan. New Delhi had previously rejected Trump's offer to mediate between India and China during his first term.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, May 10, 2025, Trump said he would increase trade with both India and Pakistan. He also added that he would work with both countries to find a solution concerning Kashmir.

Prior to Trump's comments, tensions rose significantly after the commencement of Operation Sindoor on May 7. Subsequently, the U.S. Vice-President spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, while the U.S. Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio spoke with the External Affairs Minister on May 8 and NSA Ajit Doval on May 10, coinciding with the ceasefire agreement.

Trump's remarks have sparked debate, particularly his reference to a possible nuclear conflict, which some speculate may be linked to the impact of India's airstrikes on Pakistani air force bases on May 10. These airstrikes allegedly targeted a suspected nuclear site in the Kirana Hills near PAF's Mushaf base in Sargodha. Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that Indian forces were unaware of the site.