In recent news, former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that his administration brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, even suggesting that he averted a potential "nuclear conflict". These assertions have been consistently refuted by the Indian government, which maintains that the ceasefire was a result of direct talks between the two countries' military officials, with no mediation from the U.S.
Trump's initial claims surfaced after a period of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, triggered by cross-border clashes and military actions. Following India's strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting what it called terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan, Trump took to social media to announce that a "full and immediate ceasefire" had been agreed upon, brokered by the U.S. He further added that he would work with both nations to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute.
However, the Indian government has firmly denied Trump's version of events. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the ceasefire was the outcome of discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, clarified that the specific date, time, and wording of the understanding were worked out directly between the DGMOs.
Despite India's repeated denials, Trump has continued to assert his role in bringing about the ceasefire. At an investment forum in Riyadh, he stated that his administration "successfully brokered a historic ceasefire" and that he "used trade to a large extent to do it". He even quipped that he had told the leaders of India and Pakistan, "Fellas, come on. Let's make a deal. Let's do some trading," suggesting that he had offered trade incentives to de-escalate tensions. Trump went on to say, "Let's not trade nuclear missiles. Let's trade the things that you make so beautifully".
The Indian government has also refuted Trump's claim that trade was a factor in the ceasefire agreement. The MEA stated that "the issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions" between Indian and U.S. leaders. Government sources also said there had been “no reference to trade” during talks between Indian and U.S. officials over de-escalating the situation.
Moreover, India has rejected Trump's assertion that the U.S. had averted a "nuclear conflict" between the two countries. The MEA spokesperson clarified that the military action was "entirely in the conventional domain". Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also asserted that India will not tolerate any form of "nuclear blackmail".
Trump's claims have sparked controversy and drawn criticism from various quarters. Some experts believe that his statements undermine India's long-standing position against third-party mediation in its disputes with Pakistan, particularly regarding Kashmir. The main opposition Congress party has demanded an explanation from the government and called for an all-party meeting on the matter.
Despite the Indian government's strong rebuttal, Trump has remained steadfast in his claims, even suggesting that the leaders of India and Pakistan could now go for "a nice dinner" together. He has also praised his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and other officials for their efforts in achieving the ceasefire.
