US President Donald Trump has said Washington had averted what could have been a nuclear war between Pakistan and India.
The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came as the former blamed Islamabad for an attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties. Islamabad responded by downing five Indian jets.
After intercepting drones sent by India and tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention for both sides to finally drop their guns. On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan.
“The situation had escalated to the point where nuclear war could have broken out,” he said in an interview with US outlet Fox News on Friday.
Trump said that he had great conversations with Pakistan. “You know we can’t forget them because it takes two to tango.”
He continued that Pakistan would love to trade with the US.
“They are brilliant people. They make amazing products. We don’t do much trading with them.”
As the US imposed heavy levies on dozens of allies and rivals alike on April 2, Pakistan was hit by a 29 per cent tariff on goods it exports to the US. The government has said it is seeking ways to address the existing trade imbalance between the two countries.
On trade with New Delhi, Trump said that India was one of the highly tariffed nations, making it almost “impossible to do business”.
However, India is ready to cut 100 per cent of its tariffs for the US, he added. “That deal will come soon,” the president said.
On Thursday, he had stated that India had offered a trade deal that proposed “no tariffs” for American goods.
The military has confirmed that 13 security personnel, including members of the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force, were martyred while 78 were injured during the confrontation with India.
It has also stated that 40 civilians — including seven women and 15 children — lost their lives during the attacks, while 121 others sustained injuries.
