For the first time in weeks, US President Donald Trump did not take credit for the halting of hostilities between the two neighboring countries, saying that the two “very smart” leaders of India and Pakistan “decided” not to continue a conflict that could have turned nuclear.
After having Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday, Trump made the comments while addressing the media in the Oval Office.
Trump responded, “Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything,” when asked if he and Munir had mentioned Iran during their meeting. They are not antagonistic against Israel. They genuinely know both of them, but they may have a better understanding of Iran, but they recognize the situation, and he concurred with me.”
“I want to thank him for not entering the war and bringing it to a conclusion, which is why I had him here. I also want to congratulate Prime Minister Modi, who just left a little while ago. We are currently negotiating a trade agreement with India. The president stated, “We are negotiating a trade agreement with Pakistan.”
A few weeks ago, I was with Modi, but they were both present. Actually, he was present, but we talk to him now. And I am quite pleased that two intelligent individuals—as well as, you know, members of their staff—made the decision to end that conflict. A nuclear war might have resulted from that. They made the decision that those two nuclear powers were, in fact, very large nuclear powers.
Trump has not claimed responsibility for averting the military confrontation between India and Pakistan for the first time in weeks.
Trump has made numerous claims that he “helped settle” tensions between India and Pakistan since the two nations decided to end the military conflict on May 10. He also said that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors that America would engage in “a lot of trade” with them if they ended the conflict.
Trump and Modi were supposed to meet in Kananaskis, Canada, for the G7 Leaders’ Summit, but the American president left early and returned to Washington.
Modi spoke with Trump over the phone for 35 minutes before leaving Kananaskis and concluding his first trip to Canada in ten years.
In a video message from Kananaskis, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Modi told Trump that there had been “no point” during Operation Sindoor where there had been any talk at all about a trade agreement between the US and India or a suggestion for US mediation between India and Pakistan.
At the request of Islamabad, India and Pakistan held a direct discussion to stop military action via the channels of communication that are currently in existence between the two armed forces.
According to Misri, Modi made it clear that India would never accept third-party mediation and that there is broad political agreement in the country on this issue.
Misri added that Trump called Modi to offer his condolences and support for the fight against terrorism after the April 22 Pahalgam assault.
The two leaders spoke on the phone for the “first time since April” on Tuesday in Kananaskis.
According to Misri, Trump paid close attention to the prime minister’s arguments and stated his support for India’s war on terror.
Modi stated that Operation Sindoor is still in progress and that India no longer sees terrorism as a proxy conflict but rather as a battle in and of itself.
Modi was due to leave for Croatia, the final destination of his three-nation tour that started in Cyprus, when Trump asked if he might make a stop in the US on his way back from Canada.
Both leaders agreed to try to meet shortly after Modi stated that he was unable to travel to Washington owing to prior commitments, according to Misri.
Trump reiterated his assertion that he prevented a war between India and Pakistan earlier in the day, saying he spoke with Modi, calling him “a fantastic man,” and emphasized that the two nations would have a trade agreement.
“All right, I put an end to the war. I adore Pakistan. Modi is an amazing individual, in my opinion. Last night, I talked to him. We will negotiate a trade agreement with Indian Prime Minister Modi. However, I put an end to the conflict between India and Pakistan,” Trump stated on Wednesday.
Trump was questioned about his diplomatic goals for the encounter with Munir. Trump spoke to the army leader and stated, “This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side.”
Modi, among others, from the Indian side. Both of them are nuclear-armed nations, and they were fighting. I managed to stop it. I don’t believe I had just one tale. Have I authored a single story? I put an end to the conflict between two powerful, nuclear-armed nations. “The people know,” he continued, “but I don’t think I had a story written about it.”
India began Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, around two weeks after the April 22 terror incident, which left 26 people dead.
Following four days of fierce cross-border drone and missile attacks, India and Pakistan agreed to halt the hostilities on May 10.
Since then, sources in New Delhi have insisted that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India came to a decision to immediately halt the military action. No third party was involved, they stated.
