Amid India-Pakistan tension, Donald Trump reverses stance on mediation between both nuclear-armed nations
PTC Web Desk: US President Donald Trump seems to have taken a U-turn from his earlier assertion of having directly mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan recently. During a visit to US troops at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, US President Trump adopted a more nuanced tone, stating, “I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem.”
He claimed his intervention helped de-escalate tensions that, according to him, could have led to a missile conflict between the two nuclear powers. While speaking of the thaw, he said, “Pakistan was very happy with that, and India was very happy with that,” suggesting that both nations were encouraged to pivot toward trade and economic cooperation.
Reflecting on the broader context, Donald Trump added, “They’ve been fighting for about a thousand years. I said, let me try to settle it… get them all together.” However, he acknowledged the difficulty of resolving such a deeply rooted conflict, saying, “That’s a tough one.”
These remarks followed a more assertive post made days earlier on his platform, Truth Social, where Trump claimed that the United States had successfully negotiated a “full and immediate ceasefire” after a night of intense talks. The announcement came amid heightened border tensions and reports of significant military exchanges.
India denies any US mediation
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) promptly rejected Trump’s claims, asserting that no foreign party played a role in the ceasefire arrangement. According to the MEA, the truce was coordinated directly between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. The ministry clarified that the initiative originated from Pakistan, following heavy losses during retaliatory strikes by India under “Operation Sindoor.”
Trump continued to reference the ceasefire during the Saudi-US Investment Forum on May 13, describing it a diplomatic success facilitated by trade diplomacy. He even suggested a cultural rapprochement, saying, “Maybe we can even get them together for a nice dinner.”
However, India remained firm in its response. Later that day, the MEA reiterated that no discussions on trade had occurred in connection with the ceasefire. “The cessation of hostilities was a result of military dialogue—not diplomacy or trade talks,” the statement added.
On May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and indirectly dismissed the notion of third-party mediation. Reaffirming India’s longstanding position, Modi declared that any engagement with Pakistan would be strictly limited to counterterrorism or the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said India would not entertain foreign involvement in its bilateral matters.
- With inputs from agencies
