US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that former President Donald Trump "prevented and ended" a war between India and Pakistan. Rubio made these remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, highlighting what he sees as achievements under Trump's leadership. Trump himself has also claimed that he stopped a war, which could have potentially escalated to a nuclear conflict, between the two nations.
In early May 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The situation intensified with exchanges of fire along the border, the expulsion of diplomats, and the closure of airspace. India also suspended a water-sharing treaty with Pakistan. Amid these developments, the US, seemingly reversing an earlier stance of non-intervention, stepped in to mediate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance contacted senior officials from both India and Pakistan, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, to encourage de-escalation. Rubio also spoke with Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir. Following these talks, Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate ceasefire". Rubio commended both Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif for their "wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship" in choosing the path of peace.
While Rubio claimed that the agreement included the start of talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site, Indian government sources denied this, stating that the cessation of military action was worked out directly between the two countries. These sources emphasized that India has a long-standing policy of not accepting mediation in its relationship with Pakistan and has refused bilateral engagement due to Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism.
Despite these conflicting accounts, it is clear that the US played a role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. According to Paul Kapur, Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Rubio and Vance were actively engaged in encouraging de-escalation. Rubio's efforts included urging both sides to work together for peace and stability in South Asia. He also conveyed the US commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation to India.