Trump Claims Credit for Stopping India-Pakistan War, India Denies Any US Mediation

Former US President Donald Trump reignited diplomatic ripples on Wednesday by claiming he personally prevented a war between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan in May. While praising both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, Trump said their coordination helped ease tensions following one of the most serious military flare-ups in years.

Trump’s Claim: “I Stopped the War”

Speaking to reporters in Washington ahead of a lunch meeting with General Munir, Trump said:
“I stopped the war between India and Pakistan. I love Pakistan, and Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night, and we will make a trade deal with Modi of India.”

He credited General Munir with playing a key role from Pakistan’s side and called Modi’s contribution “instrumental” on behalf of India. “They were going at it, and both are nuclear countries,” Trump emphasized. “I stopped a war between two major nations.”

Modi Pushes Back: “No US Mediation”

However, the Indian government quickly rejected Trump’s version of events. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was achieved through direct military-to-military communication—not US intervention.

“Prime Minister Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like an India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan,” Misri said in an official statement.

He added that Modi firmly reiterated India’s long-standing position of rejecting any third-party mediation, stating, “India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do.”

White House Reaction and Nobel Talk

Despite India’s denial, the White House released a statement noting that Trump would host General Munir, who had suggested Trump be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for averting a nuclear conflict.

Trump had previously said that hostilities between the two neighbors ended after he urged both sides to focus on trade rather than conflict.

Background: Four Days of Tension

The most intense fighting between India and Pakistan in recent years followed a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting cross-border strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 7 to 10, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Misri noted that Trump expressed support for India’s anti-terror operations during a brief phone call on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, where the two leaders were scheduled to meet. However, Trump left early due to developments in the Middle East.

What’s Next?

Though Modi declined Trump’s request to stop by the US on his way back from Canada due to a prior schedule, he invited Trump to visit India later this year for the Quad Leaders’ Summit—an invitation Trump reportedly accepted.