U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that he personally prevented a full-scale war between India and Pakistan last month, igniting renewed debate over Washington’s role in South Asian diplomacy. Speaking ahead of a luncheon with Pakistani Army chief General Asim Munir, Trump praised both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and General Munir for their roles in bringing tensions under control.
“I stopped a war between two nuclear powers,” Trump told reporters. “They were going at it, and I spoke to both sides. General Munir did a great job from Pakistan’s side, and PM Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’ll be working on a trade deal with India soon.”
According to Trump, his intervention was key to halting the military escalation that followed India’s air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in early May, triggered by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, most of them tourists.
Nevertheless, India has firmly denied any third-party involvement in the ceasefire. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified in a press briefing that the de-escalation was a result of direct communication between the Indian and Pakistani militaries through established channels. “Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Trump that India has never accepted external mediation and never will,” Misri said.
He added that Trump and Modi had spoken during the G7 summit in Canada their first direct interaction since the May 7–10 conflict but rejected suggestions that the U.S. had influenced the ceasefire or any talks of a trade agreement during that period.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has acknowledged and welcomed the United States’ efforts, thanking Washington for its “helpful role” in cooling tensions. General Munir, who is currently visiting the U.S., had earlier praised Trump’s approach and even proposed that he be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear clash.
The White House has stood by Trump’s remarks, with spokesperson Anna Kelly confirming that President Trump’s call for calm helped prevent a dangerous escalation. “President Trump’s diplomatic efforts were crucial in shifting the focus from military action to regional stability,” she said.
The May flare-up was the most serious military confrontation between the two neighbours in years. In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched cross-border air strikes under its “Operation Sindoor”, targeting militant camps. Over the following days, skirmishes along the Line of Control raised fears of a larger conflict.
Modi reportedly declined Trump’s invite to stop by Washington after the G7 summit, citing prior commitments, but has invited the U.S. President to visit India later this year for the Quad leaders’ summit an invitation Trump has accepted.
While Trump continues to project himself as a global peacemaker, India’s firm stance on bilateral handling of regional matters shows the deep divide between public claims and diplomatic realities.
