Trump to host Pak's Asim Munir after he backed Nobel Peace Prize bid: White House
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted Pakistan's military chief, General Asim Munir, at the White House in a rare meeting that followed Munir's call for Trump to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Munir credited Trump with preventing what could have become a nuclear war between India and Pakistan during their brief military standoff in May, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.advertisementThe White House confirmed that the meeting was held in recognition of Munir's remarks lauding Trump's role in halting a potential escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.Just hours before the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 35-minute phone call with Trump to firmly clarify that the ceasefire following the May 7-10 military standoff had been achieved through direct communication between the Indian and Pakistani militaries - not through any external mediation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said PM Modi reiterated that New Delhi has never accepted third-party involvement in its bilateral issues with Islamabad and never will.Despite India's assertion, Trump insisted his intervention was decisive. Speaking to reporters ahead of Munir's visit, Trump said both countries were "going at it" and credited his outreach with defusing the crisis. He praised both Prime Minister Modi and General Munir for their roles, calling it a collaborative success, but one shaped significantly by US diplomacy.advertisement"I stopped a war between Pakistan and India. I love Pakistan," Trump said. "Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India."He added, "This man [Munir] was extremely influential in stopping the war from the Pakistani side, and Modi from the Indian side. They were going at it-and they're both nuclear countries. I stopped a war between two major nuclear nations, but I don't think I've seen a single story written about it."The four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in early May was sparked by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people - most of them tourists - were killed.In response, India launched retaliatory strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Operation Sindoor. Pakistan countered with unprovoked attacks targeting civilian areas and military infrastructure, all of which were thwarted by India's air defence systems.India has maintained that the de-escalation was the result of existing backchannel military communications. Foreign Secretary Misri also dismissed suggestions of a US-India trade dialogue or any request for mediation during the standoff.He confirmed that while Trump and PM Modi had planned to meet in person on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, the meeting was called off due to Trump's early departure amid the escalating Middle East crisis.Trump reportedly invited the PM to visit the US en route back from Canada, but PM Modi declined due to prior commitments, and instead extended an invitation to Trump to attend the Quad leaders' summit in India later this year - an offer the US President accepted.Tune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Prayers for safe return: 20 of a family from Dariyabad on pilgrimage stranded in Iran
1 2 3 4 Prayagraj: About 20 members of a Dariyabad-based family from Sangam city, who had gone on a pilgrimage to Iran on May, remain stranded in the west Asian country amid escalating tensions with Israel. The group includes majority of elderly people and two minors. They were supposed to return on June 13. However, due to Israel's strike on Iran and the subsequent cancellation of flights, the family members were shifted from Tehran to Qom city and are anxiously awaiting return. The worried family members in Sangam city are connecting with the embassy and officials concerned for the safe return of their kin. Dariyabad resident Sameer Naqvi told TOI: "As many as 20 members from the family, including my mother Huma Nazin (58), Syeda Begum (grandmother), uncle, aunt, and others, are currently stranded in Qom city of Iran. They have taken shelter in a basement, and we are in constant touch with them since the strife began." Sameer, a software engineer, added: "We are worried and running from pillar to post for their safe return as most people of the group are elderly and have a limited stock of medicines and money." Sameer claimed that family members are facing a language barrier in Iran, as majority in Iran speak Persian (Farsi) and are unable to understand Hindi or English. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo "Moreover, we are finding it difficult to send them money in Iran due to the ongoing crisis. We appeal to the Indian govt to bring them back at the earliest," said Sameer adding that the group was getting just one time meal in Iran. The group is among over 150 people from different localities of Sangam city stranded in strife-torn Iran. They include students, families and working professionals who travelled to Iran for education, business, and religious pursuits. Indian authorities, along with the embassy in Tehran and local state officials, are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating safe arrangements for those stuck in the region. As of now, most people from Sangam city and adjoining districts stranded in Iran are reported to be safe, and their families are hopeful that with the govt's intervention, they will be brought back soon.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indian-American professor slammed for blaming 'reservation' for Air India crash: 'Freeloaders are more important'
Indian-American professor Dr Rajeshwari Iyer triggered a social media storm, blaming 'reservation' behind the that killed at least 265 people, including those on board and also those on the ground. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sharing a recruitment notice of the Airports Authority of India for the post of Air Traffic Control, the Indian-origin professor argued that in India, safety is not as important as "freeloaders". "In India, freeloaders are more important than Safety. Including Indian Citizens we lose many British citizens too, 241 died in plane crash. What a pathetic system," she wrote. While many users supported her observation, many pointed out how Indian-origin people in America are jumping to conclusions about the crash. Indian-origin businessman, Hotmail co-founder, Sabeer Bhatia also made insensitive comments about people grieving for the Air India crash victims and also defended that comment. "The crash happened due to malfunctions in Boeing Dreamliner which is manufactured by USA company due to loss of thrust. There is no fault of crew. So chill a bit before farming," one wrote, reacting to Dr Iyer's reservation post. "Firstly, it's too early to conclude anything. Also, desperately wish where one day such brilliant migrants and naturalised citizens of other 'first world' nations ( whether through parents or self) like yourself, fix the flaws of this young Indian democracy and work towards ensuring that it comes out of years of colonial and outdated ideas and depredations," another wrote. Some X users dug up Brahmin named behind accidents in India and slammed her for connecting the crash with caste, and also to the ATC, as there has been no report on ATC's involvement know the crash. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the aftermath of the incident, Air India reduced its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent for the next few weeks. The decision has been taken to add to the airlines' reserve aircraft availability to take care of any unplanned disruptions and this will continue until at least mid-July.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Regime could fall': Donald Trump says no decision yet on joining Israel in bombing Iran; warns 'anything could happen'
(Photo credit: AP) US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has not yet decided whether the United States will join Israel in launching strikes against Iran, but warned that the 'regime could fall,' as a result of the conflict. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked whether he believed the Iranian government could fall. 'Sure. Anything could happen, right?' he replied, adding that a change in Iran's leadership 'could happen.' His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region following Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites. While Trump has not committed to direct US involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, he signaled increasing pressure on Tehran and emphasized that all options remain on the table. Earlier, during another exchange with reporters at the White House, Trump declined to say definitively whether he would order US forces to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' He also warned that a turning point may be imminent. 'Nothing is finished until it is finished,' further adding that, 'the next week is going to be very big— maybe less than a week." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Responding to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who rejected US demands for surrender, Trump offered a blunt reply: 'I say good luck.' The president's cryptic remarks come as Israel's strikes on Iran enter their sixth day, fueling speculation over potential US involvement and raising concerns about a broader regional conflict. Trump's cautious yet provocative tone has also sparked debate within his own party, with allies divided on how far the US should go in backing Israel. Earlier, Khamenei had dismissed Trump's previous threats and rejected the call for "unconditional surrender." "Intelligent people who know Iran, the nation and the history of Iran will never speak to this nation in the language of threats, because the Iranian nation cannot be surrendered," Khamenei declared in a televised statement, according to Iranian state media. "The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage," he added. This response challenged both Israel and Trump, as the US contemplated joining Israel's aerial operations. Both nations insist Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, whilst Iran maintains it has no such intentions.
