India maintains that the ceasefire was achieved through direct DGMO talks, not external intervention. (Image Credits: File)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday once again claimed credit for resolving the conflict between India and Pakistan, saying the tense situation “could have turned nuclear.” His remarks came ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, aimed at trying to bring an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
During his Oval Office address, Trump described the India-Pakistan confrontation in stark terms: “If you look at Pakistan and India… planes were being knocked out of the air. Six or seven planes came down. They were ready to go, maybe nuclear. We solved that.”
Trump claimed that his interventions prevented the conflict from escalating into a nuclear confrontation between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours. He also repeated his earlier statement from May 10, when he announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire.
Also Read: India vs Pakistan: How India Surged Ahead While Pakistan Lagged?
The US President also reflected on the ongoing Ukraine war, which he described as more challenging than initially expected: “I thought the Russia-Ukraine war would have been the easiest one to end, but it's actually the most difficult.”
Trump expressed confidence in his upcoming meeting with President Putin: "I think it's going to be a good meeting. I think President Putin would like to see a deal. If I weren't president, he would take over all of Ukraine. It's a war that should have never happened. But I am president, and he's not going to mess around with me.”
He further hinted at a multilateral follow-up meeting involving Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, himself, and potentially some European leaders, describing it as “the more important meeting” that could pave the way for a peaceful resolution.
Trump went on to highlight his recent claims of diplomatic successes, stating that he has resolved “six wars in the last six months” and that he is “very proud of it.” He emphasized his approach of combining diplomatic pressure with promises of trade incentives for countries willing to cease hostilities.
Regarding the India-Pakistan situation, Trump said he offered America-led trade opportunities if the two nations agreed to stop fighting. However, India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding was reached through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries, without external involvement.
Trump’s comments come at a time when the world is closely watching South Asia for potential flare-ups, given the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan. Analysts note that while Trump’s remarks may signal US diplomatic engagement, the official ceasefire between the neighbours was the result of bilateral negotiations, independent of external claims.
As Trump prepares for his meeting in Alaska, the global community will be observing how these high-profile statements interact with actual diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict and maintain peace in South Asia.
