Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has reiterated his assertion that he played a pivotal role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan. He claimed to have done so by threatening to impose steep tariffs on both countries, a move he says "stopped the fighting" between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump highlighted his skill in wielding trade and tariffs as diplomatic tools to bring about “peace to the world” in various conflict regions.
He emphasized that tariffs offer a significant pathway to peace by "saving millions of lives, just millions and millions of lives".
The president boasted about achieving seven peace deals where countries had been in conflict for centuries, leading to "millions of people being killed".
"Not in all cases, but probably in at least five of the seven (peace deals) we've done, it was through trade. We're not going to deal with people that fight,” he stated.
Trump mentioned that he warned the nations involved that "we are not going to let you deal in the United States. We'll put tariffs on you".
To reinforce his point, he referred to the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, claiming credit for bringing it to a halt.
Trump recounted telling both India and Pakistan that the US would stop trade and impose "massive tariffs" unless they "put it together" and ceased hostilities.
“You look at India and Pakistan, I said, well, we're not going to do business with either of you if you don't put it together. These are two nuclear nations. Seven planes were shot down, as you know, and they were really at it,” Trump said, without specifying the nations involved.
“I said, we're not going to do any business with you. We're not going to have anything to do with you. We are going to put massive tariffs on both of you... And within 24 hours, I had a peace deal... they stopped the fighting,” the president claimed.
Trump also lauded his peace initiatives in the Middle East as a “remarkable achievement", citing the Israel and Hamas' agreement to pause fighting as being “so great for Israel, so great for Muslims, for the Arab countries, (and) for the United States”.
"This is more than Gaza. This is peace in the Middle East, and it's an incredible thing," he remarked.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to halt the conflict following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile exchanges.
India has consistently stated that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan resulted from direct dialogue between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both militaries.
Trump repeatedly claims to have ended seven wars in his current administration, which includes conflicts between India and Pakistan, Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Since May 10, when Trump proclaimed on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire following a “long night” of US-mediated talks, he has reiterated that he “helped settle” the conflict between India and Pakistan.
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