ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Tensions between India and Pakistan have taken a diplomatic twist, as New Delhi has once again denied any role played by U.S. President Donald Trump in facilitating the recent ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), while Islamabad continues to credit Washington for helping de-escalate the volatile situation.
The ceasefire agreement was reached on May 11, following intense cross-border shelling that erupted after Indian missile strikes on Pakistani territory. The hostilities, sparked by the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), had raised fears of a full-scale conflict with potential nuclear consequences.
Contrasting Narratives
During a visit to Karachi on Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly praised President Trump’s involvement.
“Trump is a man of peace. I believe his team engaged with this situation wholeheartedly and played a vital role in securing the ceasefire,” said Sharif.
Trump himself had earlier claimed credit for the de-escalation, telling reporters in Washington:
“We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war—millions could have been killed. So I’m very proud of that.”
India Pushes Back
India, however, has categorically rejected these assertions. Appearing before a parliamentary committee in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the ceasefire was a “bilateral decision” made independently by India and Pakistan, with no mediation from any third party.
He also dismissed suggestions of “nuclear signalling” from Pakistan, asserting that India acted solely in its own strategic interests.
Several lawmakers expressed concern over Trump’s public statements, questioning why India had not responded more forcefully to “prevent the U.S. from seizing the narrative,” especially in regard to Kashmir.
Misri declined to disclose the number of Indian aircraft lost during the recent escalation, citing national security concerns.
The Military Exchange
The latest conflict erupted after India launched missile strikes on multiple Pakistani cities during the nights of May 6 and 7, allegedly targeting what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists.
Pakistan responded with a major retaliatory campaign, dubbed Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, striking Indian military positions across several regions. Pakistani officials described the response as “precise and proportionate,” accusing India of continued aggression and violations of Pakistani sovereignty.
Global Concern and Ceasefire
Pakistan’s retaliatory action prompted global powers to intervene diplomatically, with efforts eventually leading to the May 11 ceasefire.
While Islamabad views Washington’s role—particularly that of President Trump—as instrumental, New Delhi maintains the ceasefire was purely a product of bilateral engagement.
The sharply differing perspectives highlight the fragile nature of peace in the region, and the broader geopolitical implications of third-party involvement in South Asia’s most dangerous rivalry.
