In a characteristically self-congratulatory tone, U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that his administration averted what could have spiralled into a full-scale nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Addressing a press briefing, Trump claimed to have halted a "bad nuclear war" that, in his words, was "hot and heavy" at its peak, with both nations on the brink of catastrophic escalation.
Framing the episode as a triumph of personal diplomacy, Trump credited his administration with brokering an "immediate ceasefire" that he suggested may have prevented the deaths of millions. Without offering specific timelines or referencing known incidents, he praised his Vice President and Secretary of State for their behind-the-scenes efforts, suggesting that their intervention&mdash;backed by his own strategic pressure&mdash;helped pull two nuclear-armed nations back from the abyss.
Notably, Trump claimed he used the leverage of bilateral trade to force compliance. Speaking off-script, he recounted telling both India and Pakistan, &ldquo;If you want trade, stop the fighting.&rdquo; He portrayed this economic coercion as decisive, arguing that neither country had encountered such direct linkage between commerce and crisis de-escalation. &ldquo;People have never used trade the way I have,&rdquo; he boasted, implying that his brand of transactional diplomacy delivered immediate results.
While the episode lacks corroboration and is devoid of specific context&mdash;such as the Pulwama-Balakot standoff of 2019 or cross-border shelling incidents&mdash;it underscores Trump&rsquo;s penchant for recasting complex geopolitical crises as personal victories. The assertion may find resonance among his supporters, yet it is likely to invite scrutiny from diplomats and regional experts aware of the fragile, multifactorial deterrence that has long defined the India-Pakistan nuclear equation.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and US President Donald Trump

President says trade leverage forced ceasefire between two nuclear-armed neighbours

Trump Claims He Averted India-Pak Nuclear War

President says trade leverage forced ceasefire between two nuclear-armed neighbours

May 13, 2025 | 06:19 IST