“I say let’s do some trade’: Trump reiterates his claims to promote India-Pakistan military truce
Speaking at the US Sudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump said he had provided trade incentives to New Delhi and Islamabad to ease tensions.
“I said let’s do some trade,” Trump said. Tensions among nuclear-weapon neighbors following a cross-border strike earlier this month.
Under Operation Sindor, India avenged the killing of 26 civilians in the depths of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir attacks, targeting terrorist housing infrastructure, under Operation Sindor.
Trump said on May 12: “Come on, we’re going to do a lot of deals with you. Let’s stop. If you stop it.
Trump also claimed that “trade is a big reason why they stopped fighting”, reiterating a line he used earlier in the White House game this week, saying the United States is “ready to help” India and Pakistan addressed their differences.
India denies any foreign role in the truce
However, Indian officials firmly adhered to Trump’s claims, stressing that the ceasefire arrangement is a direct understanding between the two countries’ directors of military operations (DGMOs). “There is no decision to hold any other issues on any other issues,” a senior official reported in New Delhi’s journalist in New Delhi, saying it was a Monday Monday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists that all issues in Pakistan must be resolved on both sides and has previously rejected any role of third parties in military or diplomatic negotiations.
U.S. officials engage in India after Sindor’s action, but no deal is discussed
After the Sindoor operation, senior U.S. leaders did have a series of high-level conversations with their Indian counterparts amid concerns about escalation. But contrary to Trump’s remarks, multiple sources confirmed that none of these discussions touched on trade-related issues.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly spoke with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar from May 8 to May 10 and spoke with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on May 10, a call designed to assess the consequences of Sindoor’s operations and urge both sides to restrict.
Trump became the first leader in the world to claim India and Pakistan agreed to a complete ceasefire, even before India or Pakistan issued a formal statement, Newidi insisted that the agreement was purely bilateral and limited in scope.
India’s policy toward Pakistan has not changed
Officials in New Delhi reiterated that military understanding between DGMOs does not equal a broader diplomatic thaw or a shift in India’s long-term policy towards Pakistan.
“Understanding is a mechanism to prevent cross-border violence, not the beginning of negotiations,” a senior official said, adding that India is cautious about Pakistan’s intentions and expects to take verifiable actions against terrorism before any substantial participation.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials remained measuring in public statements. Rubio said in another briefing that Washington would “continue to encourage restraint and dialogue” but avoid repeating Trump’s claims on trade-linked diplomacy.
However, he did hint at Washington’s desire for “structural confidence building” between the two neighbors and suggested that “future dialogue may take place in a neutral environment”, a view that was quickly rejected by Indian officials.
