Trump shifts tone after weeks of taking credit
In a notable shift, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday credited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir for averting a full-scale conflict, stepping back from his earlier claims that it was his personal diplomacy that prevented a nuclear war.
Speaking from the Oval Office after hosting Gen. Munir for lunch, Trump said, “I’m so happy that two smart people… decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war.”
Modi pushes back against Trump’s role in ceasefire
Trump’s remarks come days after India publicly dismissed claims of US mediation in the ceasefire that followed Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking from the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, confirmed that Modi made it clear to Trump during a 35-minute phone call that the ceasefire decision was entirely bilateral.
“India has never accepted mediation, nor would it ever accept it. We have complete political unanimity on this,” Misri quoted PM Modi as saying.
Modi also clarified that the cessation of military actions followed a ceasefire request from Pakistan, which came after the Indian Air Force struck nine of Pakistan’s key airbases. The request was communicated through pre-established military channels, without any involvement from a third party.
From ‘I stopped the war’ to credit-sharing
Over the past several weeks, Trump repeatedly asserted that he was the key figure behind the India-Pakistan de-escalation, claiming that promises of US trade incentives helped prevent further conflict. However, Wednesday’s comments marked a clear change in tone, with Trump now commending both Modi and Munir as “very smart people” who avoided conflict on their own terms.
His earlier declarations—“I stopped the war,” and “I told them we’d do a lot of trade if they stopped”—were met with firm rejection from New Delhi, which has consistently maintained that any engagement with Pakistan must remain bilateral and direct.
India emphasizes sovereign decision-making
Misri further reinforced India’s position by stating there was no discussion of trade deals, incentives, or US diplomatic involvement at any level during Operation Sindoor. “At no point was American mediation ever sought, offered, or accepted,” he said.
India’s consistent rejection of third-party involvement echoes its longstanding policy on bilateral matters, particularly concerning Pakistan. PM Modi’s decision to publicly refute Trump’s claim signals a clear assertion of strategic autonomy.
A strategic message from New Delhi
While Trump’s adjusted narrative may indicate a diplomatic climbdown, India’s messaging ensures clarity: the end of hostilities was a result of India’s strong response and direct communication with Pakistan, not external intervention.
Whether Trump reverts to his earlier position or continues to downplay US involvement remains to be seen. For now, the message from New Delhi is unequivocal: India and Pakistan resolved the crisis independently.
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