US President Donald Trump has claimed that hostilities between India and Pakistan have been “settled,” crediting his administration’s efforts for brokering peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Speaking to American troops at a military base in Qatar during a Gulf tour, Trump described the situation as having reached a dangerous point before the US intervened diplomatically.
“I don’t wanna say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week,” Trump told the audience. He added that both countries were happy with the outcome and said, “Let’s do trade instead of war. And we talked to them about trade. Let’s do trade instead of war. And Pakistan was very happy with that and India was very happy with that and I think they are on the way.”
India-Pakistan ceasefire after Operation Sindoor
India and Pakistan had recently halted their most serious military confrontation in nearly 30 years, agreeing to a ceasefire on Saturday following behind-the-scenes diplomacy. The United States played a quiet but significant role in urging both nations to step back from the brink. According to Trump, this diplomacy involved offering increased trade in exchange for peace—and threatening to withhold it otherwise.
“They have been fighting for about a thousand years… Let me settle it up,” Trump said in his typical extemporaneous style, drawing laughs but also criticism for oversimplifying a deeply complex conflict.
India refutes Trump’s ‘mediator’ claims
Despite Trump’s boastful remarks, India was quick to dismiss several of his claims. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denied that trade incentives were discussed as part of the ceasefire talks.
“There were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation,” Jaiswal said. “The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”
Trump’s repeated and embellished claims of mediating the India-Pakistan conflict are now straining Washington’s relationship with New Delhi. India has worked for years to build strategic trust with the US.
Trump on Thursday said he told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand manufacturing in India unless it serves the Indian market. Speaking after a meeting with US and Qatari business leaders, Trump claimed India has “offered to drop all tariffs” on the US.
He recounted telling Cook, “You’re my friend, I’ve treated you well, but I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want that unless it’s for India. It’s one of the highest tariff nations in the world.” Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing trade discussions and concerns over US companies shifting operations overseas.