The White House has once again highlighted the role of US President Donald Trump in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s actions were key in preventing a major conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Leavitt also claimed that Trump was actively involved in peace efforts in other parts of the world, including Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza.
While speaking to the media, Leavitt praised Trump for his approach to global diplomacy. She stated that Trump’s decisive actions had ended wars and prevented escalation in various conflict zones. “Look at what the president (US President Trump) has done on the world stage. He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan. He continues to work aggressively to end the war in Russia and Ukraine. He completely obliterated Iran's nuclear sites. He has continued to hopefully negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, to end that conflict and release all of the hostages. We've seen many of the hostages released as a result of this president's efforts,” she said.
President Trump has repeatedly asserted that his tough stance, particularly regarding trade, helped to calm the situation between India and Pakistan. On Saturday, he claimed that his threat to withhold a trade agreement played a significant role in stopping hostilities between the two nations.
“We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other. You know, it seems like a new form of warfare. You saw it recently when you looked at what we did in Iran, where we knocked out their nuclear capability, totally knocked out that. But India and Pakistan were going at it, and they were back and forth, and it was getting bigger and bigger, and we got it solved through trade. We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons, both very powerful nuclear states,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks suggest that the US used its influence to push both India and Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire. He credited his trade deal strategy for bringing both sides to the negotiation table and preventing a potential war.
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India, however, has maintained that no third party played a role in the ceasefire. According to Indian officials, the truce was a direct result of discussions between India and Pakistan, with the Pakistani side requesting the ceasefire. The Indian government has repeatedly clarified that it does not accept third-party mediation in issues involving Pakistan, especially those related to national security and border conflicts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have discussed the matter with President Trump during a telephonic conversation. During the call, Modi made it clear that the ceasefire was a bilateral decision. This stance reflects India’s long-standing policy that disputes with Pakistan, including border tensions and ceasefire agreements, are to be resolved directly between the two nations without foreign interference.
Apart from mentioning his role in the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Trump also spoke about his actions against Iran’s nuclear programme. According to him, US forces had “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear facilities under his orders. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to bring peace in Gaza and the release of hostages from the region.
“Trump continues to work to end the war in Russia and Ukraine,” Leavitt added while addressing the media. His administration, she said, is also pushing for a peace deal between Israel and Gaza. Several hostages have already been freed due to these diplomatic efforts.
These claims, however, have drawn mixed reactions globally. While Trump’s supporters have praised his strong and direct approach to diplomacy, critics argue that some of his statements are exaggerated and lack concrete evidence.
India and Pakistan have a history of strained relations, with cross-border conflicts and ceasefire violations occurring frequently. While the US has often played an indirect role in encouraging peace between the two countries, India’s official position has always been to resolve issues bilaterally.
The mention of a trade deal by Trump adds an interesting angle to the narrative. It suggests that Washington might have used economic leverage to de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear powers. However, the Indian government’s denial of third-party involvement indicates that Trump’s claims may not fully align with the ground reality.
The White House’s latest statement about President Trump’s involvement in the India-Pakistan ceasefire has once again brought attention to his foreign policy approach. Trump’s claims of using trade deal threats to prevent a major conflict have sparked debate about the extent of the US’s role in South Asian geopolitics.
India, on its part, continues to maintain that the ceasefire was a direct agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad, without any external mediation. Despite these differing narratives, the episode highlights the complex interplay of diplomacy, trade, and international pressure in preventing conflicts between nuclear-armed nations.
Trump’s broader claims of ending wars and influencing peace talks across the globe may remain controversial, but they underline his administration’s willingness to use unconventional strategies to achieve results. As tensions in various parts of the world continue, his involvement in situations like the India-Pakistan ceasefire will remain a topic of discussion among analysts and policymakers.
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