Former U.S. President Donald Trump, while speaking alongside Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, once again asserted that his administration was responsible for preventing a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming credit for brokering a "historic ceasefire" through trade diplomacy. His comments have sparked fresh debate, especially in light of India's firm stance against third-party mediation.
Trump stated:
“We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe that could have turned out into a nuclear disaster.”
He thanked the leadership of both countries and highlighted the United States’ role in global peace, saying:
“We can’t trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons.”
He also praised both nations for showing willingness to cooperate and added:
“They are actually getting along... Maybe we can even get them together where they go out and have a nice dinner together.”
These comments echo Trump’s earlier remarks at the Saudi Arabia-US Investment Forum 2025, where he credited his administration with using trade incentives to de-escalate the situation:
“Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things that you make so beautifully.”
However, India has strongly rejected any suggestion of third-party involvement, asserting that the ceasefire was strictly bilateral, brokered directly between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. Indian officials have consistently maintained that the ceasefire agreement had no linkage to trade talks or any external facilitation.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made such claims. During his presidency, he repeatedly offered to mediate on Kashmir, proposals that India categorically rejected, maintaining that all matters with Pakistan are internal or bilateral.
While Trump’s remarks may play well to his political base and narrative of international deal-making, they have little traction diplomatically, especially given India's policy of strategic autonomy and resistance to internationalisation of its bilateral issues with Pakistan.
