NEW DELHI: Just hours after India refuted claims of US mediation in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after heightened tensions, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again took credit for the truce between the nuclear powered neighbours by using trade as a deterrent.
Speaking in Riyadh during his Middle East tour, Trump said, "Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, and I used trade to a large extent to do it.”
"I said, fellas, come on, let’s make a deal. Let’s do some trading. Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things that you make so beautifully," he added.
Also read: 'My administration brokered a historic ceasefire between India and Pakistan': US President Donald Trump
Following Trump's claim, Congress upped the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether his comparison with Pakistani counterpart is acceptable to the government.
In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "I used trade to make a deal between them, and they agreed…” Not only is Donald Trump hyphenating India with Pakistan, he is comparing Prime Minister Modi with Shehbaz Sharif."
"Is this comparison acceptable to PMO?" he asked.
This comes after ministry of external affairs reiterated its rejection of Trump's offer to mediate in the dispute with Pakistan over J&K, and said India had a long-standing national position that any issue pertaining to the Union Territory would be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally.
Also read: Finally, India makes it official: Trump didn't broker India-Pakistan ceasefire
"That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," MEA said when asked about Trump's offer.
Government also rejected the US President's claim that he had threatened to stop trade with India and Pakistan to get them to agree to a "ceasefire".
"From the time Op Sindoor started on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," MEA said.
India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions triggered by the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Pakistan responded with drone attacks targeting areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These attacks were intercepted by Indian defence systems but raised fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Speaking in Riyadh during his Middle East tour, Trump said, "Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, and I used trade to a large extent to do it.”
"I said, fellas, come on, let’s make a deal. Let’s do some trading. Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things that you make so beautifully," he added.
Also read: 'My administration brokered a historic ceasefire between India and Pakistan': US President Donald Trump
Following Trump's claim, Congress upped the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether his comparison with Pakistani counterpart is acceptable to the government.
In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "I used trade to make a deal between them, and they agreed…” Not only is Donald Trump hyphenating India with Pakistan, he is comparing Prime Minister Modi with Shehbaz Sharif."
"Is this comparison acceptable to PMO?" he asked.
This comes after ministry of external affairs reiterated its rejection of Trump's offer to mediate in the dispute with Pakistan over J&K, and said India had a long-standing national position that any issue pertaining to the Union Territory would be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally.
Also read: Finally, India makes it official: Trump didn't broker India-Pakistan ceasefire
"That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," MEA said when asked about Trump's offer.
Government also rejected the US President's claim that he had threatened to stop trade with India and Pakistan to get them to agree to a "ceasefire".
"From the time Op Sindoor started on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," MEA said.
India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions triggered by the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Pakistan responded with drone attacks targeting areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These attacks were intercepted by Indian defence systems but raised fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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