US President Donald Trump took a U-turn on his claims that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. On Wednesday, he changed his stance, acknowledging it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who stopped the war on Indian side while taking credit for stopping war from Pakistani side.
"Modi stopped the war on India side. I stopped the war on Pakistani side... I love Pakistan. Modi is a fantastic man," Trump said while talking to reporters on June 18.
This comes after PM Modi spoke to Trump on Wednesday during a 35-minute phone call. Trump had urged the premier to visit the US while returning from the G7 summit in Canada. However, Modi turned down the offer, saying he has pre-scheduled arrangements. He was scheduled to travel to Croatia, where he arrived on Wednesday evening.
During the call, which was first communication between Modi and Trump since Operation Sindoor, the prime minister "strongly" conveyed India's stance that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan. He added that there were no talks "at any level on the India-America trade deal or on the mediation between India and Pakistan by America".
"The halt to military action was discussed directly between India and Pakistan, through existing channels of the two armies, and at the request of Pakistan. India has never accepted mediation, and does not, and will never accept it," he said.
While talking to reporters, Trump also gave fresh warning to Iran. He was ambiguous in his message as he stopped short of confirming whether America will begin military strikes on Iran.
“I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do," Trump said. “The next week is going to be very big. Maybe less than a week.”
