Spoke To 'Very Terrific' PM Modi During India-Pakistan War, Brokered Peace In 5 Hours: Trump

US President Trump stated his actions were pivotal in preventing a nuclear crisis between India and Pakistan. His use of trade as leverage and differing narratives from India highlight the complexity of diplomatic relations.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his claim of intervening to prevent a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.

Trump Claims Called PM Modi

During a cabinet meeting, he mentioned speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warning Pakistan about potential trade repercussions if hostilities continued. Trump emphasised that his intervention was crucial in averting a crisis.

The US President said, "I'm talking to a very terrific man, Modi of India. I said, what's going on with you and Pakistan? Then I spoke to Pakistan about trade. I said, what's going on with you and India? This has been going on for a hell of a long time, sometimes under different names for hundreds of years."

He added, "But I said, what's going on? I said, I don't want to make a trade deal.... I said, no, no, I don't want to make a trade deal with you. You're going to have a nuclear war. You guys are going to end up in a nuclear war. And that was very important to them. I said, call me back tomorrow, but we're not going to do any deals with you, or we're going to put tariffs on you that are so high. I don't give a damn. Your head's going to spin. You're not going to end up in a war. Within about five hours, it was done. It was done. Now maybe it starts again, I don't know. I don't think so. But I'll stop it if it does. We can't let these things happen."

Trump has made similar assertions over two dozen times, stating that tensions between India and Pakistan were on the brink of escalating into a nuclear confrontation following the Pahalgam terror attack. The attack, which resulted in 26 casualties, was attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. The US later designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

Trade Pressure as a Diplomatic Tool

Trump claimed he used trade as leverage to halt the escalation between the two nations. He recounted telling both countries that no trade deals would proceed if they continued fighting. According to him, this approach led to a swift resolution within hours, although he acknowledged the possibility of future tensions.

Despite Trump's claims, India has consistently denied any third-party involvement in de-escalating tensions with Pakistan. Indian officials stated that it was Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations who initiated contact with his Indian counterpart, leading to a ceasefire agreement on May 10.

Impact on Global Conflicts

The White House credited Trump's foreign policy for easing global conflicts, citing the India-Pakistan situation as an example. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted Trump's role in securing a "ceasefire" following Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on May 7.

During discussions with South Korea's President, Trump reiterated his stance on preventing wars globally. He mentioned stopping potential conflicts between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade negotiations as a deterrent against military escalation.