Lagatar24 Desk
Washington: In a marked shift from his earlier boasts, US President Donald Trump has now credited India and Pakistan for halting hostilities following Operation Sindoor, dropping his previous claims of brokering peace between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Speaking from the Oval Office after a lunch meeting with Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir, Trump said, “I’m so happy that two smart people… decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war.”
Trump’s new remarks signal a retreat from his repeated assertions since May 10 that his personal diplomacy and the promise of US trade incentives had de-escalated the situation. In contrast, Trump on Wednesday gave due credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and General Munir, calling them “very smart people” for choosing restraint.
India’s firm rejection of mediation claims
The shift in Trump’s stance came just hours after a 35-minute phone conversation with PM Modi. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking from the G7 summit in Canada, Modi categorically told Trump there was no US involvement, no trade negotiations, and absolutely no room for mediation in Operation Sindoor – India’s strategic military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. “India has never accepted mediation nor would it ever accept it,” Misri quoted PM Modi, reinforcing that the ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan through established military channels after suffering significant damage to its air bases.
Diplomatic recalibration
Trump’s public comments following the call appeared noticeably toned down. While he again repeated, “I stopped the war,” the revised framing – giving direct credit to India and Pakistan – indicates a diplomatic recalibration, likely triggered by India’s assertive clarification. For global observers, this may signal an attempt by Washington to avoid a credibility challenge over its role in the ceasefire narrative.
New Delhi’s message remains clear: any resolution to India-Pakistan tensions will be bilateral, and no third-party intervention, however well-publicised, will be acknowledged.
