Did Trump's 'no trade' threat stop India and Pakistan from a 'nuclear conflict'?

In another affirmation of the United States’s role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan amid escalating border tensions, President Donald Trump said that he stopped a nuclear conflict. 

 

“I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed,” he said while addressing the media at the White House.

Also read | Indian diplomacy faces big test on Kashmir after Trump's offer to broker a solution

Trump also thanked Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the role they have played. 

 

Trump also attributed part of the breakthrough to trade diplomacy. He said that he had told both the leaders that the US was going to do a “lot of trade…and if you don’t stop, we are not going to do any trade.” 

 

“The leadership of India and Pakistan was unwavering and powerful, but unwavering in both cases...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,” said Trump. 

 

Trump also added that he will be soon negotiating trade with Pakistan as well. Currently, the US is negotiating with India to achieve a trade deal. 

 

India-Pakistan tensions escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. By launching Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces have successfully thwarted the efforts by Pakistan to attack its border regions by drones and missiles. India firmly repelled Pakistan's aggression and struck its air and military bases. 

 

Amid heightened tensions and ceasefire, DGMO-level talks held between both the countries on Monday evening. While the details of the talks is awaited, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Monday evening. Lauding the efforts by the Indian armed forces, Modi said that India sent a strong message to Pakistan. 

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