Trump’s Ceasefire Claims Spark Debate Over Role in India-Pakistan Truce
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has criticized President Donald Trump for taking credit for the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling the move ‘just Trump being Trump.’ Bolton’s comments come as the U.S. President has publicly claimed a role in brokering the agreement, a claim that has drawn mixed reactions from both countries.
Bolton, who served under Trump during his first term, said the U.S. President’s tendency to assert credit for international developments is not unique to this situation. ‘This is Donald Trump, who takes credit for everything,’ he told ANI, adding that Trump’s actions ‘were nothing personal to India.’ Bolton suggested that the President may have engaged in conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, potentially jumping in before other nations could claim a role in the ceasefire.
While Bolton acknowledged Trump’s habit of taking credit, he emphasized that the U.S. President’s actions are not directed at India. ‘It’s nothing against India,’ he reiterated, noting that the situation is ‘just Trump being Trump.’ This sentiment aligns with broader criticisms of Trump’s leadership style, which has often been characterized by a tendency to dominate narratives and take credit for diplomatic efforts.
India-Pakistan Ceasefire and Operation Sindoor
The ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which was announced on May 10, followed a period of intense cross-border conflict. The agreement came after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohajedeen, and Hizbul Mujahide-than in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was conducted in response to a deadly attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly civilians.
Pakistan attempted to retaliate, using drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, and heavy artillery to target Jammu and Kashmir and border regions. The situation escalated to a point where neighboring countries expressed concerns over the potential consequences of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. However, the ceasefire announcement came unexpectedly, not from either India or Pakistan, but from the U.S. President.
Trump’s Role in the Ceasefire: Claims and Reactions
President Trump claimed credit for the ceasefire, stating that he played a successful role as a mediator. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced the agreement and credited the U.S. for leveraging ‘trade’ to persuade India and Pakistan to stop military actions. He also offered to mediate the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, a move that has been met with skepticism by both countries.
India has rejected Trump’s claims, asserting that any issues related to Jammu and Kashmir will be resolved bilaterally. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the mention of ‘trade’ did not come up in discussions between Indian and U.S. leaders during the operation and the ceasefire. ‘From the time OPERATION SINDOOR commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and U.S. leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions,’ the MEA stated.
The U.S. President’s claims have raised questions about the role of the U.S. in the India-Pakistan conflict. While Trump has long been known for his assertive diplomatic style, the current situation has highlighted the complexities of international relations and the challenges of maintaining a neutral role in conflicts between major powers.