Donald Trump has once again asserted his role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, claiming that his intervention prevented a "very big war". This assertion revolves around his supposed mediation efforts, particularly through trade negotiations, aimed at calming the long-standing conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Trump's recent remarks echo similar claims he has made in the past, stating that he facilitated a ceasefire by engaging with both Indian and Pakistani leaders. He has even gone so far as to suggest that he threatened to halt all trade with both countries if they did not cease hostilities. According to Trump, this ultimatum prompted both sides to de-escalate. He has also stated that a "big deal" involving India and Pakistan was in the works during his presidency, which allegedly helped calm the crisis.

However, India has consistently refuted Trump's claims of mediation. New Delhi maintains that the ceasefire understanding was the result of direct military-level talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that India has never accepted, and will never accept, third-party mediation on issues related to Pakistan.

Despite these denials, Trump has persisted in his narrative. He has praised both Prime Minister Modi and Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, for their roles in preventing war. He has also lamented the lack of media coverage on his supposed achievement, stating that he stopped a war between two major nuclear nations, but he doesn't think there's a story written about it.

The Indian government has clarified that while top leaders in New Delhi and Washington were in contact following a military standoff with Pakistan, trade was never discussed. "The issue of trade didn't come up in any of these discussions," said Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman for India's foreign ministry.

Conflicting accounts of the situation have caused some friction in the India-US relationship. While some view Trump's claims as provocative, others suggest that the Trump administration may have played a role in persuading Pakistan to pull back.

Despite the discrepancies in the narratives, it is clear that the relationship between India and Pakistan remains complex and sensitive. While Trump's claims of mediation may be disputed, the need for peaceful resolution and stability in the region remains a critical concern.