Operation Sindoor: Was Trump planning to involve US military to resolve India-Pak conflict? 'We can fight better than...'

US President Donald Trump repeated his "stopped India-Pakistan conflict" claim on Saturday, despite India categorically denying the involvement of any third party in resolving the recent military tensions between both nations. Trump's comments come after India's all-party delegation visited the United States recently in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. 

 

During a press briefing at the White House, US President Trump said, "We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe that could have turned out into a nuclear disaster, and I want to thank the leaders of India and Pakistan, and I want to thank my people," ANI reported.

 

Trump claimed again he used the "trade card" to "stop" India and Pakistan from fighting. "We say we can't trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons. They're great leaders in those countries, and they understood and they agreed, and that all stopped, and we're stopping others from fighting also. Also, because ultimately we can fight better than anybody, we have the greatest military in the world. We have the greatest leaders in the world...", the publication reported quoting Trump.

 

Trump's comments come amid India's outreach programme to partner countries to present India's stand against terrorism and why Operation Sindoor was necessary. An all-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited New York recently as part of the outreach plan. 

 

However, India has strongly denied any involvement of a third party in the recent ceasefire talks between India and Pakistan. Tensions heightened between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the killings of 26 persons in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. India launched precision strikes and destroyed terror launchpads at nine locations along the Line of Control. However, Pakistan retaliated targeting Indian military assets. Both nations agreed to stop firing on May 10 following a hotline conversation between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations.

 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing following bilateral talks. Speaking to a parliamentary panel on Monday, Jaishankar said the decision to halt the military operation was taken bilaterally after a request from Pakistan.

 

"Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) wanted the exchange of fire and other hostilities to halt, which led to bilateral discussions and a ceasefire deal. There was no question of US mediation between New Delhi and Islamabad," Jaishankar told the panel. According to the MEA, the United States was urging India to speak with Pakistan. India maintained that terror and talks would not go together, news agency PTI quoted him as saying during the address.

 

 

World