SRINAGAR — U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that his administration played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, crediting "trade diplomacy" for easing tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. However, his renewed offer to mediate on Kashmir has been met with sharp opposition from New Delhi, even as Islamabad welcomed the suggestion—highlighting the deep diplomatic divide.
Speaking at a public event, Trump claimed his administration facilitated a "full and immediate ceasefire" between India and Pakistan after days of intense cross-border hostilities.
"We helped a lot. And we helped also with trade," Trump added. "I told them, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’ll do trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.' People have never really used trade the way I used it, that I can tell you."
According to Trump, this approach prompted both nations to agree to a ceasefire. "And all of a sudden, they said, ‘I think we’re going to stop.’ And they have," he concluded.
While details of U.S. involvement remain unclear, the ceasefire follows a dangerous escalation that saw artillery exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC), raising global concerns. Trump framed the deal as a "historic event", praising both nations for their "strength and wisdom."
Trump’s remarks, however, reignited the long-standing debate over third-party intervention in Kashmir. India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, dismissed the idea, reiterating New Delhi’s stance that Kashmir is strictly a bilateral issue.
"For us, the word mediation does not work," Ambule stated. "Kashmir is not an international issue—it is between India and Pakistan alone."
In contrast, Pakistan’s Foreign Office welcomed Trump’s offer, calling for a resolution "in line with UN Security Council resolutions."
Adding to the geopolitical tensions, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah warned that the recent attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, has reinvigorated Pakistan’s efforts to internationalize Kashmir.
"Pakistan has successfully used this tragedy to put Kashmir back on the global agenda," Abdullah said in an interview. "Tourism has collapsed, markets are empty, and fear has returned."
The attack—one of the deadliest in years—has not only destabilized the region but also complicated India’s diplomatic narrative, just as it seeks to project normalcy in Kashmir. While the ceasefire holds for now, the underlying tensions remain volatile.
https://kashmirpulse.com/jk/trump-claims-credit-for-india-pakistan-ceasefire/112472.html
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