Claim: Donald Trump has repeated the claim that he “stopped a war between Pakistan and India,” even after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuted any possibility of third-party mediation.
Verdict: False
What Is Being Claimed?
During a recent media interaction, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed once again that he “stopped a war between Pakistan and India,” while praising both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Army Chief Asif Munir. He also repeated his desire to finalize a trade deal with India.
Trump’s full quote:
“I stopped a war between Pakistan and India. I love Pakistan… Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night.”
This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. In the past, he has asserted that he acted as a peacemaker between the two nuclear-armed nations.
What Are the Facts?
- India’s Official Position:
- PM Narendra Modi publicly rejected any form of third-party mediation regarding India-Pakistan disputes, especially Kashmir.
- India has maintained that all bilateral issues with Pakistan must be resolved only through direct dialogue, as per the 1972 Simla Agreement and 1999 Lahore Declaration.
- Modi’s Past Response to Trump’s Claim:
- In July 2019, when Trump claimed that Modi asked him to mediate on Kashmir, India’s Ministry of External Affairs categorically denied this.
- PM Modi reiterated India’s non-acceptance of mediation during various press conferences and speeches, stating: “India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never do so in the future.”
- No Official Records or Evidence:
- There is no documented proof from either India or Pakistan confirming Trump’s involvement in preventing a military conflict.
- Neither the U.S. State Department nor India’s Ministry of External Affairs has corroborated such claims with specifics or outcomes.
Context: India-Pakistan Tensions
- In 2019, India and Pakistan came close to direct conflict following the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent Balakot airstrike.
- Global powers, including the United States, urged restraint — but there is no evidence that Trump directly mediated or “stopped a war.”
Conclusion
False Claim
There is no verifiable evidence that Donald Trump directly prevented a war between India and Pakistan. The Indian government and including PM Modi that has consistently rejected the idea of foreign mediation in India-Pakistan affairs. Trump’s repeated claims are unsubstantiated and misleading.