Trump Highlights India-Pakistan Relations at Gaza Peace Summit
At the Gaza Peace Summit on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump commended India as a remarkable nation. He expressed hope that India and Pakistan could coexist peacefully. “India is a great country with a wonderful friend at the top who has done a fantastic job. I believe India and Pakistan will live very nicely together,” Trump stated while speaking to global leaders.
This positive note came after a year marked by rising tensions between the two countries. Recently, a tragic attack in Pahalgam, claimed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including 25 Indians and one citizen from Nepal.
In response to the attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror camps connected to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This operation was followed by a strong defense against further escalations from Pakistan.
Trump’s comments at the summit followed a previous declaration made while aboard Air Force One, where he mentioned using tariffs to manage several international conflicts, including the tensions between India and Pakistan. “I told them if they want to fight a war with nuclear weapons, I’ll impose heavy tariffs on both of them,” Trump added, claiming that his threat helped resolve the situation swiftly.
Additionally, Trump took the opportunity to speak about his broader efforts in conflict resolution, asserting that he has successfully settled eight wars, including the one between India and Pakistan. He mentioned his interest in addressing the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan as well.
Since his announcement of a ceasefire agreement on May 10, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for helping to settle the conflict between India and Pakistan, a claim that India contests, stating that the agreement came from direct discussions between military leaders from both sides.
On the ground, Operation Sindoor was a significant response to the Pahalgam attack, which led to an understanding between India and Pakistan to cease hostilities after several days of intense military action.
In reflecting on the past conflicts, Trump emphasized his role, stating, “We saved millions of lives, think about India and Pakistan, and the long wars that spanned decades.” He expressed that his motivation was not the Nobel Peace Prize but the desire to save lives.
