US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to avoid war with Pakistan. Trump made the comments during a Diwali event at the White House. Many Indian-origin guests attended the event. He stressed the importance of peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement on May 10 to stop all military actions on land, air, and sea. This agreement came after escalating clashes that involved fighter jets, drones, missiles, and artillery. The conflict caused nearly 70 deaths on both sides of the border. Trump claimed credit for helping end the violence, but India said it handles matters with Pakistan directly.
Read more: Trump praises Pakistan for recognising his efforts to stop war
During his speech, Trump said he had a good conversation with Modi about trade and peace. He told Modi there should be no war with Pakistan. Trump explained that discussing trade made it easier to talk about peace. He added that there is now no war between the two countries, which he called a very good thing.
Last week, Trump said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met him and praised his role in preventing wars. Sharif thanked Trump for helping avoid conflicts that could have caused millions of deaths. Trump also mentioned that Modi assured him India would limit its oil purchases from Russia. This issue has caused trade tensions between the US and India.
Read more: Trump Urges Modi: No War with Pakistan, Focus on Trade
The US imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods because of its Russian oil imports. This action raised India’s import tariffs by 50% this year. Despite these challenges, the US and India continue ongoing trade negotiations. Both leaders aim to improve relations while maintaining peace in South Asia.