Addressing the media on June 18, 2025, on the South Lawn of the White House, against the backdrop of a flag pole installation, was U.S. President Donald Trump. Only hours prior to the briefing, he had engaged in a phone dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump reiterated his assertion, during this press interaction, that he had played a key role in preventing a potential war between India and Pakistan.
Trump made his commentaries to the gathered press corps, painting a picture of his congratulatory role in maintaining peace between the two South Asian giants. Praising Modi, he called him ‘an exceptional man’, emphasizing his belief that a trade agreement between the two nations was imminent.
“I was instrumental in preventing the war. I hold Pakistan in high esteem. I believe Modi is an exceptional man. I engaged in a dialogue with him last night. Our plan is to formulate a trade pact with India. However, I was pivotal in stopping the conflict between Pakistan and India,” conveyed Trump during his briefing on June 18, 2025.
In the same briefing, Trump informed the press of his plans to host Pakistani General Asim Munir for a luncheon at the White House the same day. Upon being questioned about his expectations from the diplomatic encounter with the Pakistani general, Trump responded.
“This man played a significant role in halting the conflict from the Pakistan side,” Trump observed, referencing General Munir. He continued to touch upon Modi’s instrumental role in de-escalation from the Indian side, noting that both nations were nuclear powers.
The President expressed his contentment over the stoppage of a potential conflict between two major nations, both possessing significant nuclear capabilities. He expressed frustration over what he perceived as a lack of media coverage about his role in the peaceful resolution of the conflict. He maintained that despite such lack of reportage, the general populace was aware of his efforts.
In a telephonic conversation that spanned nearly 35 minutes with President Trump the previous day, on June 17, 2025, Prime Minister Modi had expressed without mincing his words that India’s stance on not accepting external mediation remained staunch. Furthermore, he reaffirmed that the initial talks to cease military actions between India and Pakistan’s military were put into motion upon Pakistan’s behest.
Following four days of heightened tension and cross-border drone and missile strikes, India and Pakistan agreed to conclude their conflict on May 10. Despite such tension, sources within the Indian government in New Delhi held that there was a common understanding reached between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations to abruptly end all military provocations across land, sea, and air.
These same sources maintained the stance that this resolution was achieved without the involvement of any third parties. However, on May 10, President Trump made a proclamation on social media stating that India and Pakistan had consented to a ‘comprehensive and immediate’ ceasefire after an extensive night of discussions facilitated by Washington.
Repeatedly, for over a dozen times, Trump has reasserted that he ‘helped alleviate’ the tensions that were brewing between India and Pakistan. Trump noted that he communicated to the nuclear-capable South Asian neighbours that trade relations with America could be significantly bolstered only if they ceased their conflict.
His references to an impending trade deal underline his approach to foreign relations, blending diplomacy and commerce. The potential benefits of a peace-oriented stance are not just the avoidance of conflict, but economic prosperity as well, as suggested by Trump’s comments.
However, disagreements persisted over the truth behind Trump’s repeated assertions of his key role in mediating peace between the two countries. While there are multiple accounts, what stands out is the fact that a crisis was averted, and peace prevailed.
The significance of such de-escalations can’t be understated. India and Pakistan, both being nuclear powers, their conflict could have easily escalated to a global catastrophe, affecting many far from the South Asian region.
In the grand scheme of things, the world needs leaders committed to peacekeeping and forging stronger connections through trade. Irrespective of the different accounts of the path to de-escalation, the end, indeed, justified the means.
The eventual cessation of hostilities and the steering towards collaborative trade engagements, serve as a thread of hope for the advancement of peace and prosperity in the South Asian region, as well as a potential boost for US relations with both nations.
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