Trump Claims to Mediate Ceasefire Between India and Pakistan for the 11th Time
Trump's Repeated Claims of Ceasefire Mediation
U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted for the 11th time that he facilitated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He expressed pride in what he termed a 'deal' that prevented a potential nuclear conflict through trade rather than military action. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly stated that he warned both nations that failure to halt their hostilities would result in the U.S. suspending trade with them. However, India refuted these claims on Thursday, clarifying that discussions between Indian and American leaders during military tensions did not include trade matters. The Indian government dismissed the assertion that trade proposals led to any agreement on ceasing hostilities.
Political Reactions in India Following Trump's Statements
In response to Trump's claims, the Indian National Congress party criticized him on Saturday, noting that he has made this assertion 11 times in just 21 days. They questioned when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would respond to these repeated statements. Trump reiterated on Friday that he intervened to broker a ceasefire to avert a nuclear disaster, making similar claims twice more that day.
Political Commentary on Trump's Claims
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media to highlight that this was the 11th instance in which Trump claimed to have facilitated a ceasefire with Pakistan. He asked when Prime Minister Modi would address these assertions. Ramesh remarked that Trump continuously repeats how he halted a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade as a means to prevent nuclear threats.
Ramesh also pointed out that Trump's commerce secretary made similar claims at the International Trade Court in New York on May 23. He criticized Modi for remaining silent and ignoring Trump's assertions.
Trump stated on Friday, 'I believe the deal I am most proud of is that we are working with India and Pakistan to prevent a potential nuclear war through trade instead of bullets.' He emphasized that typically, conflicts are resolved through military means, but his administration has approached it differently. He noted that both nations were on the brink of a significant conflict, highlighting their nuclear capabilities. Trump mentioned that a Pakistani delegation is scheduled to visit the U.S. next week.