Trump repeats his India-Pak claims for 'nth time', PM Modi silent: Congress
As India is grieving over Ahmedabad aircraft tragedy, Trump repeated his claims saying he was proud he stopped the war between India and Pakistan using trade
Even as India is engulfed in grief over the Ahmedabad aircraft tragedy, President Donald Trump continues to repeat his claims that he had "stopped a war between India and Pakistan", said the Congress on Friday (June 13).
The national party spokesperson added that Trump is making this claim for the "nth time" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to remain silent on these claims.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a video clip of Trump's remarks on X in which he repeated his claim that he "stopped a war between India and Pakistan" and stopped it "with trade". This is the nth time he is repeating these claims, he pointed out.
"This was at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC yesterday. And the Prime Minister continues to be silent on these claims," the Congress leader said.
'Can solve anything': Trump
Asserting that he "can solve anything", Trump on Thursday said India and Pakistan have had a long time rivalry over Kashmir and he will bring the two nations together. India has been maintaining its stance that Kashmir is a bilateral issue not open to third-party mediation.
"We are going to get those two (India and Pakistan) getting together," Trump said in response to a question during a bill signing ceremony in the White House.
Also read: US calls Pak 'phenomenal partner': Is it not setback for India? Congress asks PM
"I told them, India and Pakistan, they have had a long time rivalry over Kashmir and I said I can solve anything', he said.
Trump said he asked the countries how long has this rivalry been going on and they said 2,000 years, to which he replied, smiling, oh, that's a problem. The US president repeated his claim that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan with phone calls and trade.
Stopped a war
"I stopped a war between India and Pakistan, and I stopped it with trade. I don't think I've ever seen a story written about it, but it was pretty, pretty cool. They were getting ready," he said.
He said it was "Pakistan's turn to hit, and eventually they're going to go nuclear. And I stopped it. I called each, I respect each leader greatly. I know them, and I spoke to them, and I talked about trade."
Trump said he told the leaders of India and Pakistan that they are not "trading with the US if you're going to go to war, if you're going to start throwing nuclear weapons around".
Also read: Congress blames India’s ‘foreign policy collapse’ for Pakistan’s UN role
"And I said it to both of them, and they were both unbelievable. Actually, they understood it exactly. They stopped. I stopped that war with phone calls and trade. "And India is here right now, negotiating a trade deal, and Pakistan is coming, I think, next week. And I'm very proud of that," Trump said.
India-Pak tensions
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.
The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.
Trump has repeatedly been claiming that the US has stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.
3 diplomatic setbacks
The Congress on Thursday claimed India has suffered three "huge diplomatic setbacks" from the US, which is constantly hyphenating India and Pakistan and that the Modi government's foreign policy has "failed" as it is driven by domestic political considerations.
Also read: India not invited at G7 meet 'yet another big diplomatic bungle': Congress
Congress general secretary Ramesh had said the US' recent statements were both a "challenge and a warning" and required serious thinking "when the PM is only interested in playing divisive politics". He had also said Prime Minister Modi should leave aside his "stubbornness" to call an all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament.
Ramesh had said US Army General Michael Kurilla calling Pakistan a "phenomenal partner" in the counterterrorism world, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir's reported visit to Washington DC for the US Army Day celebrations later this week and the recent remarks by a Trump administration spokesperson were "three huge setbacks" to India.
(With inputs from agencies)