“The U.S. didn’t simply ‘dealer’ the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, it averted a ‘nuclear battle’,” mentioned U.S. President Donald Trump in his newest claims, including that he had threatened to cease commerce with each international locations until they agreed to finish hostilities.
The feedback, the primary assertion the U.S. President has made in particular person on the White Home on developments, have been rebutted by Authorities sources, who mentioned there had been “no reference to commerce” throughout talks between Indian and U.S. officers over de-escalating the scenario final week.
“I mentioned [to the Indian and Pakistani leadership], let’s cease it. If you happen to cease it, we’re doing commerce. If you happen to don’t cease it we’re not going to do any commerce,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters at The White Home on Monday (Could 12, 2025) repeating among the claims he had revamped the weekend in social media posts, and added that commerce was the “huge” purpose the 2 sides reached an understanding to cease navy motion towards one another. He added that the U.S. is “negotiating with India” at current, disclosing for the primary time that the U.S. deliberate to start out negotiating on commerce with Pakistan as properly.
Authorities sources, nonetheless, denied the declare. The sources mentioned that after the graduation of Operation Sindoor on Could 7, U.S. Vice-President had spoken to PM Narendra Modi on Could 9, whereas U.S. Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio spoke to Exterior Affairs Minister on Could 8 and to NSA Ajit Doval on Could 10, when the ceasefire settlement was made. “There was no reference to commerce in any of those discussions”.
Mr. Trump additionally mentioned that U.S. officers had “stopped the nuclear battle” between India and Pakistan. “I believe it will have it may have been a foul nuclear struggle. Hundreds of thousands of individuals may have been killed, so I’m very happy with that,” the U.S. President mentioned in his feedback.
The controversial statements are more likely to be raised by opposition MPs on the subsequent parliamentary committee assembly on exterior affairs, anticipated to be held subsequent Monday (Could 19, 2025), when Overseas Secretary Vikram Misri is anticipated to transient on the developments between India and Pakistan.
It’s unclear whether or not Mr. Trump’s reference to a potential nuclear battle was linked to widespread hypothesis concerning the impression of India’s airstrikes on Could 10 on Pakistani air pressure bases on a suspected nuclear web site in an space referred to as the Kirana Hills close to PAF’s Mushaf base in Sargodha. When requested concerning the reviews, Air Marshal AK Bharti mentioned that Indian forces didn’t know concerning the web site. “We didn’t hit Kirana hills, no matter is there,” he added. Nevertheless, the Authorities has not thus far clarified on the report about Mr. Trump’s different contentions together with the declare of mediation.
As The Hindu had reported, a number of former diplomats had criticised Mr. Trump’s feedback, in two social media posts concerning the U.S.’s position in India-Pakistan talks, saying that they violate India’s ideas towards third-party mediation, hyphenation with Pakistan or internationalisation of inner points.
On Monday (Could 12, 2025), various opposition leaders additionally referred to as on the Authorities to make its stand on the U.S.’s statements clear.
“By conserving quiet on these claims, the PM has didn’t guarantee the individuals towards American or third-party intervention in bilateral affairs regarding India and Pakistan,” mentioned the CPM’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, who referred to as for an “pressing parliament session” to debate the difficulty.
(with inputs from Dinakar Peri and Sobhana Okay. Nair)
Printed – Could 12, 2025 08:46 pm IST
