Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that his tariff policy played a decisive role in preventing a larger military confrontation between India and Pakistan, claiming economic pressure helped defuse tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
Speaking during an interview with CNBC, Trump described tariffs as a powerful diplomatic tool and said they had enabled him to prevent several international conflicts. Referring to India and Pakistan, he alleged that both countries backed away from further escalation after being warned of harsh trade measures.
According to Trump, he had informed both governments that continuing hostilities would result in massive tariffs on their exports to the United States. He claimed that the warning prompted both sides to reconsider their military options and avoid a broader conflict.
The US President also stated that the situation had become particularly dangerous because both countries possess nuclear weapons. He claimed the confrontation had the potential to spiral into a devastating war before diplomatic efforts helped calm the situation.
Trump further alleged that Pakistan’s leadership had acknowledged his role in easing tensions and credited him with preventing large-scale loss of life. However, he did not present any new details or evidence to substantiate the claim.
The remarks come months after heightened military tensions followed the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people lost their lives. India subsequently launched Operation Sindoor, carrying out precision strikes against terrorist infrastructure across the border.
India, however, has consistently dismissed Trump’s repeated assertions regarding US mediation. The Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that the decision to halt military action was reached through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, without the involvement of any third party.
New Delhi has repeatedly reiterated its long-standing position that all matters relating to Pakistan are bilateral and do not require external mediation.
Trump’s latest comments also come amid continuing scrutiny of his trade policies within the United States. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that his administration had exceeded its legal authority in invoking emergency powers to impose broad tariff measures, a judgment that reignited debate over his aggressive use of trade as a foreign policy instrument.
Despite Trump’s renewed claims, India’s official stance remains unchanged, with the government continuing to emphasise that the de-escalation was achieved independently through established military channels between the two countries.
