President Donald Trump signaled at an event in Doha, Qatar on May 15. Image source: AP
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (May 16, 2025) called his administration a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan, seeing the cessation of hostilities as a “huge success” and saying the level of anger between the two neighbors “is not a good thing.”
“We’re very happy with what happened and I hope it will continue, but I think that’s going to, but what happened in India and Pakistan. It’s a big success. If you’re going to see the level of anger in between, that’s not a good thing, it’s not a good thing,” he returned to Washington on his four-day visit when he spoke to Air Force One on Friday (May 16).
This is the seventh time since May 10, Mr. Trump claimed that the United States had a “ceasefire” between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“Help solve the problem”
Mr. Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and repeated that he “helped” tensions between India and Pakistan when he “helped” the tensions between India and Pakistan at the Al-Udeid Air Base in West Asia’s largest U.S. military base on Thursday.
India conducted a precise strike under terrorist infrastructure operations earlier on May 7 in response to the Pahargam terrorist attacks that killed 26 people in Jamu and Kashmir on April 22.
After the Indian operation, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. Indian troops launched a fierce counterattack on several Pakistani military facilities. The two countries reached a good understanding on May 10 to end a four-day fierce cross-border drone and missile strike.
On Saturday, Mr. Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “complete and immediate ceasefire” after “a long night of talks mediated by the United States.” Later, in an article on truth socialization, Mr. Trump proposed working with India and Pakistan to find a “solution” in Kashmir, while praising Washington for helping the two countries reach a “historic and heroic decision” to stop the conflict.
Sources in the Indian government in New Delhi have always insisted that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) in India and Pakistan reached a certain understanding to prevent all shooting and military operations on land, air and oceans and have an immediate impact. They said no third parties were involved. India has always insisted that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral incident in Pakistan and there is no room for any third party.
Encourage direct negotiations: State Council
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said Thursday that the administration hopes to encourage and see “direct” talks between India and Pakistan, which clearly reverses President Trump’s earlier comments, and he will work with both countries to seek a “solution” in Kashmir.
“Well, look, what we’d love to see is the ceasefire. That’s what we’ve said over the past few days and we want to encourage and see direct negotiations between the parties. We’ve already made it clear.”
“Peaceful President”
“Let’s take a step back, the President is a peaceful man, we celebrate the progress of peace, and we want to see the ceasefire sustained. And the President is also clear that his praise is the perseverance he has given both countries the wisdom and perseverance to show by choosing the path to peace,” Mr. Piggot added.
publishing – May 17, 2025 02:23 AM IST
