US President Donald Trump said his administration had played a key role in prevention of a potential nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India, attributing trade promise as a crucial factor in the de -escalation of recent hostilities.
Speaking on the White House on Monday before signing an executive decree on drug prices, Trump said Washington was ready to support the two nations following their recent cease-fire agreement.
“They were going hot and heavy, and that was not going to stop,” said Trump. “I said, come on, we will do a lot of business with you, stop it, stop it. If you stop it, we will do a job. If you do not stop it, we are not going to do the job.”
The president then underlined the role of economic incentives in the peace effort. “People have never really used trade as I used. That I can tell you. And all of a sudden, they said, I think we are going to stop. And they did it,” he said. “They have done so for many reasons, but trade is important. We are going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan, we are going to do a lot of trade with India.”
Thinking about the outcome, Trump said: “We have stopped a nuclear conflict, I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed, so I’m very proud of that.”
The remarks occurred in the context of increased tensions triggered by the murder of 26 people – mainly tourists – in the Jammu and the cashmere of Indian origin (IIOJK).
The attack led to a spectacular escalation between the two nuclear arms neighbors. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the activists behind the assault, an affirmation that Islamabad firmly denied.
India has launched air strikes against what it described as militant training camps across the border. Pakistan said strikes have reached civilian areas, causing dozens of victims.
In retaliation, Pakistan struck 26 Indian military facilities and dozens of Pakistani drones hovered over major Indian cities, including Capital New Delhi, in offensive operations on Saturday.
