US President Donald Trump once again expressed his “mediation policy” regarding Pakistan-India relations, offering trade cooperation to the two nuclear neighbors if they end their military tensions. He stated that if India and Pakistan end their conflict, the US is ready for trade with both countries, but if the conflict continues, trade will not be possible.
President Trump, while addressing the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Saudi Arabia, said, “We are going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan, and with India as well, but we told them to end this conflict first.”
He stated, “Maybe we can bring them a little closer, where they go out and have a nice meal together — wouldn’t that be nice?” Although this sentence appeared to be humorous, it sparked serious debate on social media and among analytical circles regarding its diplomatic implications.
India has officially continued to reject claims of American mediation. In the past, when President Trump had stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally requested him to mediate on Kashmir, New Delhi denied the statement. However, following the recent remarks, India’s stance appears to have weakened once again.
Senior Indian journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and American journalist Nick Robertson have confirmed that India did reach out to the US government for mediation. Indian journalist Sushant Singh stated that Trump’s repeated statements are politically damaging for Modi. Although Indian media tries to ignore these remarks, they are gaining traction on social media.
President Trump claimed that the US has played a significant role in reducing military tensions and making a ceasefire possible between India and Pakistan. However, the Indian government has consistently rejected these claims, considering them an interference in internal sovereignty.
According to analysts, Trump’s recent statement could not only lead to diplomatic pressure on India but could also create political challenges for the Modi government domestically. This is not the first time Trump has indicated intervention or mediation in Pakistan-India relations. In the past, too, New Delhi has strongly reacted to his statements.
Analysts are divided on whether the US President’s offer can truly be a prelude to peace in the region or if it is merely political rhetoric aimed at securing trade interests and global attention.
