New Delhi: In a dramatic press conference, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed credit for preventing what he described as a potential “bad nuclear war” between India and Pakistan. Speaking at the White House, Trump said both nations were “going at it hot and heavy” during the recent escalation, and that his administration had brokered what he believed to be a “full and immediate ceasefire.” Acknowledging the nuclear capabilities of both countries, Trump remarked, “It could have been a bad nuclear war, where millions of people could have been killed.” He also thanked Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio for their efforts during the diplomatic crisis.
During his address, Trump appeared to veer off-script, claiming that he used trade as leverage to de-escalate tensions. “I said, come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys, both countries, so let’s stop it,” he said. “If you don’t stop, we’re not going to do any trade.” He asserted that “people have never used trade the way I have used it,” implying that this pressure contributed to the ceasefire.
However, Indian government sources strongly refuted Trump’s claims about trade playing any role in the discussions. According to officials who spoke to NDTV, there was no reference to trade in any of the high-level communications between the United States and India. They clarified that Vice President Vance spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, and Secretary Rubio held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on May 8 and 10, but trade was never discussed.
Less than an hour after Trump’s remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a firm and direct message to both Pakistan and the international community. Without referencing Trump directly, Modi stated that India would no longer tolerate “nuclear blackmail.” He reiterated that Operation Sindoor was not just a military operation, but a shift in India’s security doctrine—a new normal in its fight against terrorism.
“India will strike wherever terror bases are located, and shall do so decisively if our country is attacked,” PM Modi said. Emphasizing India’s resolve, he warned that terrorist sanctuaries operating under the guise of nuclear deterrence would be targeted with precision. “India will not differentiate between terrorists and those who support them—whether individuals or state actors,” he declared.
Responding indirectly to Trump’s assertion of a “permanent ceasefire,” Modi clarified that Operation Sindoor had only been suspended, not concluded. He stressed that the pause was conditional on Pakistan taking meaningful steps to dismantle its terror infrastructure. “In the coming days, we will assess every action Pakistan takes. Let me repeat again—our retaliatory operations have only been suspended, not ended,” the Prime Minister warned. He added that if Pakistan fails to act or resorts to deception, India is prepared to resume targeted strikes against terror hubs.
PM Modi’s speech underlined a clear policy transformation, signaling that India will no longer be restrained by conventional diplomatic caution when national security is at stake. He made it unequivocally clear that going forward, India’s response to terrorism—regardless of whether it’s state-sponsored—will be swift, decisive, and uncompromising.
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