U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid engaging in war with Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of peace in South Asia.
According to Arab News, Trump made the remarks during a Diwali celebration at the Oval Office, attended by a large number of Indian Americans.
Speaking to the gathering, Trump said, “I spoke with your Prime Minister today. We had a very good conversation — we discussed trade, and I told him that there should be no war with Pakistan. Thankfully, both nations are now avoiding conflict, which is a very good thing.”
The two nuclear-armed neighbors, India and Pakistan, had recently agreed to halt military operations on land, air, and sea following weeks of heightened tensions that resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides.
Trump, taking credit for helping ease the hostilities, said his diplomatic efforts contributed to the ceasefire. However, New Delhi has maintained that its discussions with Pakistan remain strictly bilateral, rejecting any third-party mediation.
Trump also claimed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently praised his role in defusing potential wars that could have cost countless lives.
On another note, the U.S. president said Modi assured him that India would reduce its oil imports from Russia — a matter that has strained trade relations between Washington and New Delhi. The U.S. has imposed additional tariffs on Indian goods in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil, though trade negotiations between the two countries are still ongoing.
