President Donald Trump has once again asserted that he played a pivotal role in resolving the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, stating he "settled that whole thing." This claim, made during a joint press conference with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, credits his personal diplomacy and ongoing trade deals with both nations for de-escalating tensions.
"If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India — we settled that whole thing," Trump declared. He further elaborated, "I think I settled it through trade. We're doing a big deal with India. We're doing a big deal with Pakistan." Trump characterized himself as the calming force in the situation, recounting how he intervened by asking, "What are you guys doing? You know, they — somebody had to be the last one to shoot. The shooting was getting worse and worse, deeper into the countries. We spoke to them, and I think we got it settled."
Trump also expressed concerns about potential setbacks to the resolution, adding, "I hate to say we got it settled, and then two days later something happens and they say, it's Trump's fault." He lauded both nations, stating, "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.”
However, these claims have been consistently refuted by Indian officials. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi has firmly denied any US role in brokering peace or that trade deals were ever linked to de-escalation efforts. In an earlier statement, the MEA asserted, "The trade issue did not come up in any discussions with Washington during the conflict," thereby rejecting any suggestion of American mediation or influence in ceasefire talks.
This is not the first time President Trump has claimed credit for easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. He has repeatedly offered to mediate disputes between India and Pakistan, as well as between India and China, offers which India has consistently declined, maintaining its long-standing policy of resolving disputes bilaterally.
Following Trump's initial claims, the US administration appeared to slightly adjust its stance. Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, stated, "What we are happy to see is a ceasefire. We want to encourage direct talks between the parties. Taking a step back, the President is a peacemaker, and we celebrate the advancement of peace. We hope the ceasefire will be maintained.”
Despite India's denial of US mediation, Trump's repeated assertions highlight his administration's focus on trade as a diplomatic tool and his willingness to take credit for de-escalating international conflicts. The situation underscores the differing perspectives on the resolution of the India-Pakistan conflict, with the US claiming a mediating role and India emphasizing bilateral discussions as the key to peace.
