Pakistan has very strong leadership: Trump

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed he played a key role in de-escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan during his time in office, asserting that his diplomatic efforts helped avert a potentially catastrophic conflict. He described Pakistan’s leadership as very strong, acknowledging that some might disagree, but affirmed, “that’s just the reality”.

Speaking at a White House event alongside the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump recounted how India and Pakistan tensions were “getting close to being out of hand,” and said he intervened by speaking directly to leaders on both sides. “I spoke to talented people on both sides. Very good people on both sides,” Trump said. “I told them we’re not going to deal with you if you go shooting each other and whipping out nuclear weapons.”

Trump claimed he used the leverage of trade negotiations to pressure both countries into stepping back from the brink. “If you’re not going to do that, we’re not doing trade deals,” he said, adding, “I got that war stopped.”

The president praised the Indian and Pakistani leadership, noting that both sides were “well represented” in talks. “The leader of India, a big guy, was here a few weeks ago and we had great talks — and Pakistan, likewise,” President Trump said. “They have very strong leadership. Some people may not like me saying that, but it is what it is. And they stopped the war. Now will they give me credit? They won’t give me credit for anything. But nobody else could have stopped it. I was proud of that.”