Trump Distances Himself from India-Pakistan Ceasefire Credit, Cites Leaders’ Decision
President Trump refrained from claiming credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, stating the leaders made their own smart decisions. In a recent Oval Office interaction with General Asim Munir, Trump discussed ongoing trade deals with both countries. Modi’s conversations emphasized India’s rejection of third-party mediation, highlighting a mutual decision to cease military operations directly between India and Pakistan.
In a noticeable shift, President Donald Trump refrained from claiming credit for the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, stating that it was ultimately up to the two nations’ leaders to avoid escalation. This statement came during a press interaction at the Oval Office after a luncheon with Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir.
During his remarks, Trump expressed gratitude toward both leaders. “The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war,” he said, also acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He mentioned ongoing trade discussions with both India and Pakistan while emphasizing the significance of the decision to de-escalate.
Trump described both Modi and Munir as “very smart people,” suggesting their wisdom was crucial in averting a potentially nuclear conflict. Notably, he had planned to meet Modi at the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, but opted to return to Washington earlier than expected.
Furthermore, before his departure, Modi and Trump engaged in a 35-minute phone call that marked their first formal dialogue since the ceasefire announcement. In a video message, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that Modi clearly conveyed to Trump that there was no ongoing discussion regarding an India-US trade agreement during the military operations and emphasized India’s stance against third-party mediation.
Misri explained that the ceasefire was purely a mutual decision made by India and Pakistan through established military communication channels and stemmed from a request made by Islamabad. Furthermore, he reinforced that Modi asserted India’s position on rejecting any third-party mediation, a stance with strong political backing at home.
In summary, President Trump’s recent comments on the India-Pakistan ceasefire reflect a noticeable departure from his usual approach of taking credit. He emphasized the wisdom of the involved leaders while downplaying the role of the United States in the conflict resolution. Furthermore, the dialogue between Trump and Modi indicates ongoing discussions around trade, though it firmly established India’s stance against third-party mediation in its dealings with Pakistan.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
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