On May 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated claims in Washington, D.C., that his administration brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, halting hostilities sparked by a deadly April 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26 tourists. Trump suggested trade incentives and nuclear war prevention drove the May 10 ceasefire, while offering to mediate the Kashmir dispute. India denies U.S. involvement, insisting the truce was bilateral, raising questions about Trump crossing India’s red lines on Kashmir.
In This Article:
Trump’s Bold Assertions
Trump’s statements, made via Truth Social and repeated in Saudi Arabia and a Fox News interview, credit U.S. mediation for the ceasefire after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. He claimed trade threats and promises swayed both nations, stating, “If you stop, we’re doing trade. If not, we’re not.” He also referenced averting a “bad nuclear war,” a claim India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri dismissed, emphasizing bilateral talks between the Directors-General of Military Operations.
India’s Firm Stance
India maintains Kashmir is a bilateral issue, rejecting third-party mediation per the 1972 Simla Agreement. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated on May 15, 2025, that dealings with Pakistan are “strictly bilateral.” Trump’s offer to “resolve” Kashmir, a dispute rooted in the 1947 partition, irks New Delhi, which views it as an internal matter. Analysts like Harsh V. Pant note Trump’s rhetoric risks “re-internationalizing” Kashmir, undermining India’s global diplomatic rise. The Congress party demanded clarity, questioning if Modi’s government softened its no-mediation stance.
Impact and Backlash
The ceasefire, effective from 5 p.m. IST on May 10, followed intense cross-border strikes, with over 70 deaths reported. While Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump, India’s silence and denials signal discomfort. Experts like Brahma Chellaney argue India’s brief military action drew unwanted global focus on Kashmir.
-By Manoj H
