President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he used the lure of trade to persuade India and Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire, averting what he called a potential nuclear conflict.
Speaking at a press briefing before departing for a tour of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, Trump said, “Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not doing any trade.”
He added, “We’re going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan. We’re going to do a lot of trade with India. We’re negotiating with India now. We’ll soon be negotiating with Pakistan.”
Earlier, Trump announced the ceasefire on Saturday, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack where terrorists linked to Pakistan killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
The United States also commended the leadership of both India and Pakistan. Officials praised their “wisdom” and “fortitude” in recognising the seriousness of the situation and ending hostilities.
According to Trump, his administration “helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire,” which he described as likely to be permanent. He claimed the two countries were on the verge of an intense military conflict, both being nuclear powers.
Notably, Trump declared, “We stopped a nuclear conflict.” He insisted millions of lives could have been lost. However, there was no public indication that either side had prepared to use nuclear weapons.
Details of the trade-related diplomacy remain unclear. India and the US have been in talks over a bilateral trade agreement. While both sides now appear optimistic, previous discussions had collapsed in 2019 during Trump’s first term.
Trump said he was “very proud” of the outcome and praised both countries for their “strength, wisdom, and understanding.”
Also Read: Success Of Operation Sindoor Dedicated To Indian Women: PM Modi
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
