US President claims he helped avert nuclear escalation; India insists Pakistan requested ceasefire after suffering losses.
US President Donald Trump has once again brought up the India-Pakistan conflict, reiterating his claim that Washington helped prevent a nuclear escalation between the two South Asian neighbours. His remarks came during an interview with Fox News, shortly after his unsuccessful summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Trump’s Remarks on India-Pakistan Tensions
- Trump said his primary goal is to save lives, even in conflicts where the US is not directly involved.
- He claimed that India and Pakistan were on the brink of a nuclear clash after Pakistan-linked terror attacks triggered a military escalation.
- “They were already shooting down airplanes. That would have been maybe nuclear. I was able to get it done,” Trump said.
India’s Stand on the Conflict
India has firmly maintained that:
- The May conflict ended only because Pakistan requested a ceasefire after facing heavy losses.
- On May 7, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
- The operation eliminated over 100 terrorists in response to the Pahalgam massacre of April 22, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed militants.
- Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks, all of which were neutralized by India’s air defence systems.
- Hostilities ended on May 10, when Pakistan approached India for a ceasefire, not due to US intervention.
Pakistan Credits Trump
Pakistan, however, has echoed Trump’s claim, crediting the US for averting escalation. Analysts suggest this is part of Islamabad’s attempt to gain Washington’s attention and support.
Trump’s Global Claims
The US President also listed other conflicts he claims to have helped defuse, including:
- Thailand–Cambodia
- Iran–Israel
- Rwanda–DR Congo
- Serbia–Kosovo
- Egypt–Ethiopia
The White House stated that Trump has brokered about one ceasefire per month during his first six months in office. His team has also suggested that such efforts justify a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
Trump’s repeated reference to the India-Pakistan conflict highlights his push to project himself as a global peacemaker. However, while Pakistan supports his version, India continues to reject the claim, insisting the ceasefire was entirely the result of its successful military operations and Pakistan’s request for truce.
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