Trump says he urged Modi to avoid war with Pakistan going forward

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has claimed he personally urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid military conflict with Pakistan, reiterating his role in easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors through diplomacy and economic leverage.

Speaking during Diwali celebrations in the Oval Office, Trump said he had a “great conversation” with Modi earlier in the day. The two leaders reportedly discussed trade, regional stability, and energy, with Trump accentuating the importance of diplomacy and commerce in maintaining peace.

“We talked about trade, and I said very clearly – no wars with Pakistan,” Trump told reporters. “Thanks to our discussions and pressure through trade, we avoided what could have been a major conflict.”

Trump reiterated his past claims that he played a decisive role in de-escalating previous India-Pakistan confrontations. “I’ve prevented about eight wars,” he said. “When India and Pakistan were on the brink, I told them, if you go to war, the US will stop trading with you. Within a day, both sides backed off.”

Trump was referring to the May military standoff between India and Pakistan – the worst since the 1999 Kargil conflict — which erupted after a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the assault, which killed 26 civilians, while Islamabad denied any involvement.

Following the attack, India launched cross-border strikes, leading to a three-day exchange of fire. Pakistan responded with a military operation dubbed Bunyan-um-Marsoos, during which it claimed to have shot down six Indian Air Force jets and neutralized several drones. The escalation was halted on May 10 after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which Trump has repeatedly taken credit for.

In his remarks, Trump also said he discussed energy ties with Modi, specifically India’s oil imports from Russia. “He told me India won’t be buying much oil from Russia. He wants the war in Ukraine to end too,” Trump said.

Despite Trump’s statements, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had no record of such a call taking place. However, Trump brushed off the denial, suggesting that if India insisted on contradicting him, it would face continued tariffs. “They’ll just keep paying massive tariffs,” he warned.

Trump has used tariffs as a tool to pressure India into reducing its Russian oil imports, which he argues help fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Roughly half of the US tariffs on Indian goods are reportedly tied to India’s continued energy trade with Russia.

While Trump claims India has agreed to scale back its purchases, Indian officials have not confirmed such a commitment. According to data from commodities analytics firm Kpler, India’s Russian oil imports are actually expected to rise by about 20% in October, reaching approximately 1.9 million barrels per day.

Indian trade officials, speaking anonymously, said discussions with the US are ongoing and remain “congenial,” though they declined to provide further details. India has consistently defended its energy strategy, stating that decisions are made to protect domestic consumer interests.

India has emerged as one of the top buyers of discounted Russian crude since Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While Washington says oil revenues help fuel the war, New Delhi maintains that it must prioritise affordable energy for its population.

As trade negotiations continue, Trump’s assertive diplomacy and tariffs remain key levers in his approach to reshaping US foreign policy – and in his view, keeping the peace.