President Donald Trump on Wednesday again took credit for stopping hostilities between India and Pakistan, attributing de-escalation of tensions to trade incentives with the US.
"I think I settled it through trade," Trump told a media interview at the White House with visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about the war between the two South Asian countries. "We're doing a big deal with India.". We're making a huge deal with Pakistan …What are you guys doing? You know, somebody had to be the last one to shoot. But the shooting was getting worse and worse, bigger and bigger, deeper and deeper into the countries.
Trump went on, "We met with them, and we, I think we, you know, I don't want to say we got it worked out, and then after two days something happens and they blame Trump. Pakistan has some great people and some very good. great leaders, and India has my friend (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. He's a great guy.
The Trump administration has continued to claim that it intervened directly to stop the hostilities after terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba murdered tourists in Pahalgam.
The US, along with others, had been in touch with India and Pakistan during the hostilities, calling upon them to stand down. India has continued to insist that the hostilities ceased after a direct request from the Pakistani military.
Although this, Trump was the one who first came out and said that the conflict had stopped, asserting that the "ceasefire" was brokered by the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the two parties had agreed "to begin negotiations on a wide range of issues at a neutral location."
India has traditionally refused third-party mediation in its conflicts, demanding bilateral settlement. However, Trump has continuously proposed US mediation to resolve India's conflict with both Pakistan and China, which India has refused politely and consistently.
