Trump Claims Trade Deal Eased India-Pak Tensions; India Refutes

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by claiming he helped ease tensions between India and Pakistan through strategic use of trade negotiations. Speaking at a U.S. military base in Qatar, Trump said he used economic pressure to bring both nations to a ceasefire, stating both countries were “very happy” with the outcome.

He further claimed that India, once a high-tariff country, agreed to eliminate duties on U.S. goods under his watch—part of a broader deal tied to regional peace efforts. Trump’s comments seemed to connect de-escalation efforts directly to trade diplomacy, implying Washington played a behind-the-scenes mediator role.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs quickly dismissed Trump’s assertions. Officials clarified that trade discussions were never linked to any military or diplomatic moves, particularly during Operation Sindoor—India’s direct military response to a terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar doubled down on India’s established stance: all issues with Pakistan are to be addressed bilaterally, without third-party involvement. He emphasized that India neither sought nor accepted foreign mediation on its national security matters.

Meanwhile, India’s opposition party Congress criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on Trump’s remarks. They raised concerns over the implications of linking trade concessions to military restraint and called for the government to clarify whether national interests were compromised.