Trump’s Role in India-Pakistan Ceasefire: Ex-NSA’s Comment
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 it a recurring pattern of behavior for the former president.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s NSA during his first term, said that Trump’s tendency to claim credit for diplomatic achievements is a defining trait. He referred to the recent claim by Trump that he had brokered a ceasefire between the two South Asian nations, which came after a four-day conflict triggered by India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ in retaliation for a terror attack in Pahalgam.
According to reports, the ceasefire was announced on May 10, following intense clashes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Trump, however, took credit for facilitating the agreement, claiming that the U.S. played a key role in de-escalating tensions through trade negotiations and personal rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Trump reiterated his role in the ceasefire, stating, ‘After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
However, India has rejected Trump’s claims, emphasizing that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved bilaterally. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the ‘issue of trade’ did not come up during discussions between Indian and U.S. leaders since the start of Operation Sindoor.
Bolton acknowledged that India had a ‘legitimate right to self-defence’ when facing terrorism but urged New Delhi to exhaust diplomatic options before taking military action. He also noted that Trump had a call with Modi, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggesting that the U.S. played a role in the negotiations.
Despite India’s stance, Trump continued to highlight his role in preventing a potential nuclear conflict, saying he ‘stopped’ the situation by promising to do ‘a lot of trade with you, let’s stop it.’
Bolton described Trump’s actions as typical of his behavior, stating, ‘It’s nothing personal to India. This is Donald Trump, who takes credit for everything.’ He added that while it may be irritating to many, it is not a personal attack on India, but rather a reflection of Trump’s personality.
India’s position remains that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved through bilateral negotiations, and that the U.S. should not interfere in the matter. The Indian government has consistently emphasized that any disputes related to the region should be addressed directly between the two nations.