In a dramatic assertion at a White House press briefing on Monday, US President Donald Trump asserted that the United States had a key role in averting a potentially disastrous armed confrontation between Pakistan and India—one that he asserted could have led to nuclear war.
Addressing the media, Trump revealed that the U.S. administration had intervened decisively during the height of the recent South Asian crisis, urging both nations to cease hostilities immediately. “We told them—stop fighting. If you don’t stop the fighting, the US will not trade with you,” Trump recounted.
Read more: Trump vows to resolve Kashmir dispute after mediating Indo-Pak ceasefire
The former president praised the behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “They worked very hard,” Trump said. “They contacted the leadership of both Pakistan and India. It was fast, intense diplomacy.”
According to Trump, the situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors had reached a critical tipping point. “There was a very serious situation between the two countries. We had to act quickly,” he said. “We averted a nuclear war. That’s the truth.”
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Trump credited the U.S.-mediated ceasefire with restoring stability in the region. “The fighting stopped. That was critical—not just for Pakistan and India, but for global peace,” he noted.
Looking toward the future, Trump said the United States remains committed to supporting both countries on economic and diplomatic fronts. “We will hold talks with Pakistan soon,” he announced, expressing hope for renewed cooperation and mutual trade.
He also commended the leadership in both Islamabad and New Delhi for their restraint. “Their commitment to peace was unwavering,” he said.
On Sunday, Trump, wrote on his social platform Truth Social, praised countries for stepping back from the edge of full-blown war. “I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision,” he wrote, calling the ceasefire a win for “Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
The truce follows a dangerous escalation marked by missile strikes from both sides, resulting in heavy losses and damage to critical military infrastructure. The situation had reached a boiling point before last-minute diplomatic backchannel efforts—led by Washington—helped diffuse the crisis.
Part of its act of revenge, Pakistan had already launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsus, a strong counterattack against main Indian military equipment. Employing ‘Fatah 2’ missiles, the Pakistani armed forces allegedly destroyed Indian missile storehouses in Beas and various airbases including Udhampur, Adampur, Suratgarh, Sirsa, Bathinda, Akhnoor, Halwara, and Pathankot.
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Islamabad security officials verified that the attack was specifically targeting military bases from which Indian missiles were launched. The precision bombing was said to have neutralized a number of strategic targets, dealing a heavy blow to India’s defense capacity.
Trump pledges economic support & Kashmir mediation
Beyond de-escalation, Trump made it clear that his involvement wouldn’t stop at ceasefire diplomacy. He pledged to substantially increase U.S. trade with both India and Pakistan, promising a fresh economic lifeline for both nations. “I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations,” Trump declared.
In a bold statement that immediately grabbed attention, Trump also addressed the Kashmir conflict, calling for a long-term resolution. “After a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” he wrote, indicating his intent to mediate the decades-long dispute.
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While his comment may have had a rhetorical tone, it was welcomed in Islamabad, which has long sought international involvement in resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully. Trump’s statement has effectively brought the matter back into the global spotlight, giving Pakistan diplomatic ground to push for a peaceful solution.
So far, there’s been no official confirmation from either New Delhi or Islamabad on the exact terms of the ceasefire. However, sources from Washington and Islamabad confirmed that the U.S. played a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue, even as the missiles were flying.
