In geopolitics it is the play of words that matter and though US President Donald Trump on Wednesday credited “very smart” leaders of India and Pakistan for deciding on not continuing a war, he again claimed credit for preventing a “war” between India and Pakistan
Trump praised both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Army chief Asif Munir, whom he met for lunch for their roles in de-escalating tensions in May, while insisting that he stopped the war
“I stopped the war between India and Pakistan. I love Pakistan, and Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night, and we will make a trade deal with Modi of India,” the US President was quoted as saying.
According to Trump, Munir played a key role in calming the situation from the Pakistan side and PM Modi on the Indian side. “This man (Asim Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistani side, and PM Modi from the Indian side,” Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for negotiating the Operation Sindoor ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which India has dismissed.
PM Modi yesterday unequivocally told Trump that India never asked for and will never accept any third-party mediation to resolve the issue of Pakistan’s illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his 35-minute phone call with Trump, PM Modi also made it clear that India’s counter-terrorism operation, Operation Sindoor, is ongoing, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
However, Pakistan has thanked Washington for playing a mediating role. Munir also credited the US President for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly was quoted as saying that Trump would host Munir after he called for the US President to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between the two nations.
Comes amid the backdrop of the recent India-Pakistan conflict, the Trump-Munir meeting is significant. It also comes amid reports on the possibility of Pakistan aiding Iran in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
