US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim on Friday that his administration played a pivotal role in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of conflict. Speaking from the Oval Office during a press briefing alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump emphasized the potential catastrophic consequences if the confrontation had escalated.
"We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe that could have turned out into a nuclear disaster," Trump stated. He credited the leaders of both countries for understanding the gravity of the situation and agreeing to cease hostilities.
Trump explained that his administration had engaged with both nations, conveying that trade relations would be unattainable as long as active conflict persisted. "We talked trade and we said 'we can't trade with people that are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons'." He further lauded the "great leaders" of India and Pakistan for their decision to end the clashes.
He also underscored the strength of the US military and leadership, claiming, "We are stopping others from fighting also, because ultimately, we can fight better than anybody. We have the greatest military in the world. We have the greatest leaders in the world."
The renewed claim refers to the ceasefire agreement reached after a surge in hostilities beginning in late April. Following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians lost their lives, India launched "Operation Sindoor" targeting terror networks across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This led to days of intensified cross-border drone and missile attacks.
On May 10, after four days of escalated exchanges, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reportedly agreed to cease all firing and military activity across land, air, and sea fronts with immediate effect. Indian government officials have maintained that this understanding was reached bilaterally, without involvement from third parties.
Despite official disclaimers, President Trump has consistently claimed credit for facilitating the de-escalation and framed it as a condition for boosting bilateral trade with both countries.
