In a dramatic revelation, US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that he played a major role in de-escalation of the recent spike in tension between India and Pakistan. While addressing the American troops at a base in Doha, Trump stated that the situation had been heading towards out of control, particularly after the deadly Pahalgam attack in Kashmir in which 26 civilians lost their lives. The US President warned that ”you’ll start seeing missiles of a different type.” He claimed, ”I Don’t want to say I did, But I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week…you started seeing missiles of different types, and we got it settled.”
#WATCH | Doha, Qatar | “I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week, which was getting more and more hostile, and all of a sudden, you’ll start seeing missiles of a different type, and we got it settled. I hope I… pic.twitter.com/M8NlkK7uSu
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2025
The statement was on the heightened risk of military escalation after India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor against nine other terror sites in Pakistan and POJ, and Pakistan’s cross border shelling. Trump also hinted that a trade discussion may have led to the breakthrough, stating both India and Pakistan were ”very happy” to talk commerce in place of conflict.
Trump claims of de-esclation
Trump’s statement has attracted scrutiny in both New Delhi as well as in Washington. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Macro Rubio have reportedly been involved in back-channel diplomacy. According to an ANI report, Indian foreign policy analysts highlighted that American involvement stopped short of direct mediation.
Veteran diplomat KP Fabian mentioned to ANI that while the US have pushed Pakistan towards a ceasefire, ”America did not mediate…pushing Pakistan towards the ceasefire talks is not mediation but it is still good. We are grateful to them for that much.” Fabian further stated that continued to be firm and demanded that any ceasefire request would be made directly by Pakistan. In the end, Pakistan’s DGMO contacted India DGMO, resulting in the May 10 ceasefire agreement.
Behind the scenes, US officials supported restraint but New Delhi’s strategic response reportedly left Pakistan looking for options. Fabian recollected, ”We were stern with our actions, and Pakistan did not know what to do next…they were in dilemma.”