Trump's Mediation Claim Rejected Again By India, Ceasefire Credited to Direct Talks
New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News): Amid strained relations between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has once again expressed his willingness to mediate between the two neighbouring countries. Despite India's repeated rejection of any third-party mediation, Trump claimed in Saudi Arabia that his administration played a key role in brokering the recent ceasefire, which India has flatly rejected.
Addressing a US-Saudi Investment Forum held in Saudi Arabia, where prominent personalities like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were present, Trump claimed that the US played a key role in averting the threat of a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan.
President Trump said, "Just a few days ago, my administration succeeded in getting a historic ceasefire between India and Pakistan. We used trade as a weapon in this. I said, friends, let's trade something. Not nuclear missiles, but the things that you make beautifully." Describing the leaders of both countries as 'very strong and intelligent', he expressed hope that this peace will continue.
The Indian government has reacted strongly to these statements of President Trump. A senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was completely the result of direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries and there was no role of any third party in it. India once again reiterated that there will be talks with Pakistan only on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and terrorism and no kind of mediation is acceptable.
This is not the first time President Trump has claimed to mediate between India and Pakistan. Earlier too he has offered to mediate on various issues related to both the countries including the Kashmir issue, which has been consistently and categorically rejected by India.
During his speech, Trump addressed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and said, "I think India and Pakistan are really getting along well now. Maybe we can bring them a little closer. Why not send them to dinner together? How cool would that be?"
