KARACHI: Pakistan continues to hold a favorable position in the eyes of U.S. President Donald Trump, who once again offered praise for Islamabad while issuing pointed criticism toward India during his latest press briefing at the Oval Office.
Addressing reporters, President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, calling it a matter of concern amid Washington’s efforts to economically isolate Moscow.
However, he noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him that New Delhi would halt its oil imports from Russia, a move Trump described as “a big step” in global efforts to curb the Kremlin’s financial resources.
“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said during a White House event. He went on to frame India’s decision as part of a broader U.S.-led diplomatic push, adding, “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
The U.S. president also linked the development to his recent diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East, including the Gaza ceasefire and the ensuing peace summit, which he hailed as a major achievement in regional stability.
In a separate remark, Trump revisited the May conflict between Pakistan and India, reiterating his previous claim that seven aircraft were shot down during the confrontation.
He commended Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier remarks, recalling that the Pakistani leader had thanked him for his mediation role in defusing what could have escalated into a nuclear exchange.
“[The] prime minister of Pakistan got up the other day and said so beautifully, ‘you saved millions of lives,’” Trump said, emphasizing that the crisis had brought both nations dangerously close to a potential nuclear war.
