Indian officials have firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that trade was a key factor in halting recent hostilities between India and Pakistan, calling the assertion inaccurate and misleading.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump stated that his administration “brokered a full and immediate ceasefire” between the two nuclear-armed nations and credited the move to a trade-based strategy. “I said, come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. If you stop it [the conflict], we’re doing trade. If you don’t, we’re not doing trade,” he told reporters.
However, sources familiar with the high-level diplomatic exchanges told Hindustan Times that trade was not discussed in any of the key conversations between Indian and U.S. officials. This includes talks between Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, and discussions involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval on May 8 and 10.
India’s military launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead. The ceasefire that followed was described by Indian authorities as a bilateral understanding between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, reached independently of U.S. influence.
Although Trump announced the ceasefire publicly on May 10 before India’s formal confirmation, New Delhi has made it clear the decision to halt operations was made solely on Indian terms.
Ironically, Trump posted on social media a day later: “While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both these great Nations.”
India and the U.S. are currently in talks over a bilateral trade agreement expected to be finalized by fall 2025. Trump has temporarily lifted a 26% custom tariff on Indian exports until July, but officials insist this development is unrelated to the ceasefire.
Despite repeated offers from Trump to mediate on Kashmir, India maintains there will be no dialogue with Pakistan on the issue. Engagement, if any, will remain limited strictly to military communication between the DGMOs. Talks on the Indus Waters Treaty also remain suspended as part of broader diplomatic and economic penalties imposed on Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack.
