Speaking at the White House, Trump asserted that had the two South Asian neighbours not agreed to de-escalate tensions, the world might have witnessed a devastating nuclear war that could have cost millions of lives.
US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that India and Pakistan were on the verge of a nuclear war before a ceasefire agreement was reached amid the soaring tensions between the two nations. Speaking at the White House, Trump asserted that had the two South Asian neighbours not agreed to de-escalate tensions, the world might have witnessed a devastating nuclear war that could have cost millions of lives. “India and Pakistan were standing at the brink of a nuclear war,” he said, expressing relief that a ceasefire was achieved just in time to avert disaster.
Notably, Trump’s statements came just moments before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled address to the nation at 8 pm on Monday. In his address, Trump also praised the leadership of India and Pakistan, saying they were able to fully understand the seriousness of the situation. He stated that the United States would support both countries in matters of trade. Trump also warned that if the conflict had not been halted, the US would not have extended any trade assistance.
“I am very proud to let you know that the leadership of Indian and Pakistan was unwavering and powerful, but unwavering in both cases – they really were from the standpoint of having the strength and the wisdom and fortitude to fully know and to understand the gravity of the situation. And we helped a lot, and we also helped with trade. I said. Come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it, let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade. People have never really used trade the way I used it. By that, I can tell you, and all of a sudden they said. I think we’re gonna stop, and they have,” Trump added.
Trump also went on to say that People have never really used trade the way he used it. “We are going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan. We’re going to do a lot of trade with India. We’re negotiating with India right now. We’re going to be soon, negotiating with Pakistan, and we stopped a nuclear conflict,” he claimed. It should be noted here that Indian government sources in New Delhi have been maintaining that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding and no third party was involved.
India-Pakistan conflict and ceasefire
With successful Operation Sindoor, India has warned terrorists and their backers that no place in Pakistan is safe for them. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed the lives of 26 innocent people. Following India’s operation, the conflict between India and Pakistan deepened, which resulted in increased cross-border shelling from Pakistan and retaliatory action from the Indian Armed Forces. However, both countries agreed to a cessation of hostilities on May 10.
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