Trump credits India, Pakistan leadership for avoiding war, backs off ‘credit’ claims

US President Donald Trump has taken a step back from his earlier assertions of brokering peace between India and Pakistan, now acknowledging that the de-escalation was the result of independent decisions made by the two countries' leaders , Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir.

Also Read:Donald Trump enters tech arena with ‘Trump Mobile’; iPhone rival may launch in India soon

During a media interaction at the White House, following a meeting with Gen. Munir, Trump commended both leaders for exercising restraint and preventing a conflict that could have had nuclear consequences. He described them as “very smart people” and noted that it was their leadership that halted the hostilities.

This marks a significant change in Trump's narrative. Since the military operations ceased on May 10, he had repeatedly claimed that it was his intervention that stopped the confrontation. However, officials in New Delhi have consistently maintained that there was no foreign involvement in the resolution.

According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the decision to halt military operations was made through direct communication between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, at Pakistan’s request. Misri clarified that no trade negotiations or mediation discussions with the US occurred during the conflict or in any diplomatic engagement thereafter.

Modi, who was attending the G7 Summit in Canada, reportedly had a 35-minute phone conversation with Trump but declined a stopover in Washington due to prior commitments. Trump acknowledged the conversation and repeated his optimism about future trade with both countries, but his tone reflected a clearer recognition of bilateral diplomacy.