Trump offers arbitration over Kashmir

WASHINGTON DC: United States President Donald Trump on Thursday once again offered to arbitrate over the Kashmir dispute, and again claimed credit for the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, saying he prevented a potential nuclear war.

Addressing reporters at the White House, the US President said he “stopped a war” between Pakistan and India, as the confrontation could eventually lead to a nuclear exchange. Trump said he made personal calls to both Indian and Pakistani leaders at the height of tensions. “I respect both the leaders of India and Pakistan. They are great people, and I know them. I stopped the war through phone calls and by offering them trade deals.”

“Eventually, they were gonna go nuclear… and I stopped it. I called each leader… and I spoke to them and talked about trade,” Trump said. “I said, ‘You’re not trading with us if you go to war… if you’re going to start throwing nuclear weapons around.’” 

“They were both unbelievable. They understood it exactly. They stopped. I stopped that war with phone calls and trade,” Trump added. 

“They have a large stockpile of nuclear weapons, and I think I should get some credit for bringing them back from the precipice.” He said that India is working on a trade deal in Washington, and a Pakistani delegation would arrive next week. 

Trump said, “We will bring them together.” Offering to arbitrate the decades-long Kashmir dispute, the US President said he told the leadership of India and Pakistan, “I can solve anything. I will be your arbitrator.”