South Africa tour of India 2019
Trump Reignites Controversy with Claim of Mediating India-Pakistan Conflict After Operation Sindoor
US President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for preventing a potential war between India and Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor, sparking a political storm in New Delhi. His remarks, delivered during a keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEOs Luncheon in Gyeongju, South Korea, have drawn sharp criticism from the Indian Opposition, which has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent on the repeated assertions.
Trump told business leaders that his intervention had stopped hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations earlier this year. “I’m doing a trade deal with India, and I have great respect and love for Prime Minister Modi. Likewise, the Prime Minister of Pakistan is a great guy. They have a Field Marshal — a great fighter. I read that seven planes were shot down. These are two nuclear nations, and they were really going at it,” Trump said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Prime Minister on X, alleging that Trump was “insulting Modi in country after country.” Gandhi urged Modi to respond, saying, “Trump said he used trade to frighten Modi into stopping Operation Sindoor. Don’t be scared, Modi ji — find the courage to respond.”
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh also accused the Modi government of “caving to US pressure” and failing to defend India’s sovereignty. “Trump has put pressure on India for a trade agreement. When we demanded a discussion in Parliament, the PM said nothing,” Ramesh told ANI, adding that this was the “56th time” Trump had claimed credit for halting Operation Sindoor.
Meanwhile, India’s official position remains firm — denying any third-party mediation in its disputes with Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that the ceasefire and de-escalation after Operation Sindoor were achieved solely through direct military communication between the two nations’ Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs). As of now, the Indian government has not issued a fresh response to Trump’s latest comments.
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