Says He Helped Prevent War Between Nuclear-Armed Pakistan and India
WASHINGTON / THE HAGUE:
US President Donald Trump has once again showered praise on Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him “a very impressive personality” and crediting him — along with US diplomacy — for helping defuse last month’s military standoff between Pakistan and India.
Speaking at a press conference after the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, Trump said the conflict between the two South Asian rivals was the most dangerous of all recent global crises, given their nuclear capabilities. According to the former president, tensions were eased following a series of US-mediated phone calls focused on trade diplomacy.
“I said, ‘Look, if you’re going to fight each other, we’re not doing any trade deals.’ It was getting very bad,” Trump recalled. “We got them to reason. They said, ‘No, we want to do the trade deal,’ and we stopped a nuclear war.”
The former US president added that his conversation with both sides helped push for de-escalation. He claimed that both Islamabad and New Delhi chose trade over conflict. “We ended that war with phone calls,” he said.
Trump, who recently hosted Field Marshal Munir at the White House, once again praised the Pakistani military chief. “I met the General from Pakistan last week — a great man. Very impressive,” he said. He also called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great friend” and “a gentleman,” underscoring his ties with both leaders.
Tensions between the two neighbours had reached a boiling point in early May after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir on April 22, which left 26 people dead, most of them tourists. Islamabad denied any involvement.
In response to India’s cross-border strikes, Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation dubbed “Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” during which it reportedly shot down six Indian jets, including three Rafales, according to Pakistani military sources.
The situation escalated into four days of heavy exchanges — the most intense since the 2019 Balakot episode — before a ceasefire was reached on May 10. While Pakistan has publicly acknowledged and thanked President Trump for his mediation efforts, India has maintained that the ceasefire was the result of direct military-to-military talks, denying any external role.
Despite India’s denial, Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the ceasefire. His offer to mediate the long-standing Kashmir dispute has also been on record several times, echoed by the US State Department in past statements.
Meanwhile, in recognition of his intervention, the Government of Pakistan has officially recommended President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “decisive diplomatic efforts” and “pivotal leadership” during the crisis.
Indian officials, however, remain firm in their position. On June 18, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that “the ceasefire was achieved through military channels alone,” in a conversation between Indian and Pakistani military officials.
As both nations step back from the brink, analysts say Trump’s high-profile remarks — mixing flattery, pressure tactics, and bold diplomacy — have brought rare focus to US influence in South Asia’s complex security dynamics.
