US President Donald Trump, for first time, accepts two leaders of India-Pakistan ‘decided' to stop conflict
In his first admission to not credit himself for stopping the India-Pakistan ceasefire last month, US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that two 'very smart' leaders of India and Pakistan 'decided' not to continue the conflict, news agency PTI, reported.
President Trump made the remarks after he hosted Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday.
India and Pakistan decided to stop the conflict and cease the hostilities on May 10. Since then, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he brokered a deal and 'helped settle' the tension between the two neighbouring countries and claimed America would do a 'lot of trade' with them if they stopped the conflict.
Trump, who hosted Pakistan's Army chief Munir, said, 'The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war. And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago, and we're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan.'
The Republican leader, for the first time in weeks, didn't take the credit for stopping the military conflict between India and Pakistan and said that 'I was with Modi a few weeks ago. He was here actually, but now we speak to him. And I'm so happy that two smart people…two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
"This Partnership Is a Good Marriage" - Piyush Goyal Kicks Off IGF London 2025 with UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds
PRNewswire London [UK], June 19: On the opening day of India Global Forum London, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds jointly defended the recently finalised India-UK Free Trade Agreement, pushing back against criticism of national insurance exemptions granted to short-term Indian workers. * Goyal and Reynolds push back against criticism over insurance exemptions, marking first joint public appearance since FTA finalisation In a rare joint session at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, both leaders addressed concerns surrounding the national insurance exemption for short-term Indian workers, a provision included in the deal that has drawn scrutiny from segments of the British media and political circles. Piyush Goyal dismissed criticism that the insurance waiver was a one-sided concession. "It's unfair to call it a giveaway," he said. "The agreement provides stability and predictability to business, and benefits workers from both sides. In fact, similar arrangements exist in many countries, and this is a win-win for mobility and trade." Reinforcing the principle of fairness, Goyal added: "They should not be double taxed, as they pay social security costs in the UK and India." UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds backed the provision, asserting that British workers would not be negatively impacted. He said: "No British worker is undercut by this UK-India FTA agreement. Business mobility has improved due to this; in turn, it has improved access to services and procurement." Both leaders stressed on the strategic alignment between the two nations. UK Secretary Jonathan Reynolds reinforced the need for practical cooperation: "We have built a relationship that allows us to deliver an ambitious agreement like this one. India is one of the most exciting countries in the world, and actually one of the most important; with the problems we face globally, I can't see any way to fix those without India playing a leading role." This was the first public appearance by the two ministers since the FTA's conclusion, and their joint presence on Day 1 of IGF London sent a strong signal of bilateral resolve. Goyal added: "There is hardly anything in which India and the UK compete; we complement each other. I believe this partnership is a good marriage. I see bilateral trade doubling in the next five years." Reynolds also underscored the strength of the bilateral relationship and optimism about the future: "India and the UK have built a relationship to deliver the FTA. I am genuinely excited by the future opportunities for both countries." Echoing this vision of outcome-driven collaboration, Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum, stated: "We at IGF are building partnerships for the future. We are connecting the dots across sectors, across geographic areas, and across generations. Each initiative is outcome-driven, measurable and future-focused. Powered by three key forces--Technology, Talent and Capital--we are linking Global Britain and Global India in tangible and transformative ways." Day 1 of IGF London 2025 set the stage for a high-powered three-day summit featuring 100+ speakers, 1000+ participants, and sessions across iconic London venues. With bold conversations spanning AI, energy transition, healthtech, geopolitics, and the creative economy, the forum was driving forward the momentum of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. About India Global Forum India Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity. To know more, click here For Media Enquiries Contact Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
What is Iran's Arak heavy water reactor and why Israel attacked it? Explained
Israel on Thursday carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in its latest offensive against Tehran's sprawling nuclear programme on the seventh day of escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Israeli strikes came parallelly with an Iranian missile hitting a hospital in the southern part of the country, causing 'extensive damage', according to the Associated Press. Israel had warned on Thursday morning that it would attack the facility and urged the public to flee the area. Iran Israel war live updates. The Arak Nuclear Complex, located in the Western part of the country, around 280 kilometres from the capital Tehran, comprises a heavy water experimental reactor and an adjacent heavy water production plant. Also Read: Missiles hit Israel's main hospital in south, Iran's Arak heavy water reactor The heavy water from the facility helps cool nuclear reactors. Though Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, the reactor produces weapons-grade plutonium as a byproduct, which can potentially be used in nuclear weapons, several websites, including Politico and Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, reported. If Iran decides to pursue a nuclear weapon, the plutonium would help it develop a nuclear bomb without enriching uranium. The international community has remained concerned over the Arak reactor, as several other countries have used such a reactor to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Moreover, the details regarding the development of the facility have been murky, with reports of foreign experts, including Russia, contributing to the construction. Iran started secretly developing a Heavy Water Research Reactor in 2003 after several nuclear suppliers rejected its requests in the 1990s. In 2015, Iran reached a landmark accord with several world powers, including the US, which is popularly known as the Iran nuclear agreement. Also Read: Iran warns against US intervention in conflict with Israel: 'All options on table' Under the agreement, Iran agreed to redesign the facility and dismantle much of its nuclear programme to relieve proliferation concerns- a move which was agreed in exchange of several billions of dollars' worth of sanctions, Politico reported. In 2019, the country started the secondary circuit of the heavy water reactor. Though Iran didn't violate 2015 nuclear deal, the move resulted in the country getting closer towards developing nuclear weapons. During the crucial interphase, UK stepped in to help Iran redesign the Arak reactor to limit the amount of plutonium produced as the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 after Trump came into power, according to the Associated Press. As part of the 2015 deal, Tehran also agreed to sell off its heavy water to the West to comply with the terms of the accord. Several international agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, have been urging Israel not to attack Iranian nuclear sites. The Israeli military said that the fighter jets targeted the Arak facility to halt Iran from producing plutonium. "The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development," Israel said. However, Iran has maintained that the water reactor facility is for peaceful purposes. Iran enriches uranium up to 60 per cent, which is slightly short of weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Huge blow to Indian diplomacy: Congress on Trump-Munir lunch
The Congress on Thursday (June 19, 2025) attacked the government after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for lunch, saying it is a "huge blow" to Indian diplomacy. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said Field Marshal Asim Munir is not the Head of State or Head of government of Pakistan and is the Chief of Army Staff, yet he gets invited by Mr. Trump for lunch and receives much praise. "This is the same man whose atrocious and inflammatory remarks formed the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks orchestrated by the establishment over which he presides," Mr. Ramesh said on X. "It is a huge blow to Indian diplomacy (and huglomacy too)," he said, taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. फील्ड मार्शल आसिम मुनीर न तो किसी देश के राष्ट्राध्यक्ष है, न ही किसी सरकार का प्रमुख। वह पाकिस्तान का सेना प्रमुख है। इसके बावजूद उसे राष्ट्रपति ट्रंप ने व्हाइट हाउस में लंच पर आमंत्रित किया और उसकी जमकर तारीफ की। यह वही व्यक्ति है, जिसके भड़काऊ और आपत्तिजनक बयानों की पृष्ठभूमि… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 19, 2025 The Congress has been taking swipes at Mr. Modi, giving "hugs" to foreign heads of state during his meetings with them at international or bilateral engagements, using the term "huglomacy" for it. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has said the two very smart leaders of India and Pakistan decided not to continue a war that could have turned nuclear, a first in weeks, he did not claim credit for stopping hostilities between the two neighbouring nations. Mr. Trump made the remarks while speaking to the media in the Oval Office after hosting Munir for lunch at the White House on Wednesday. Mr. Trump also said he was honoured to meet Mr. Munir. When asked if Iran was discussed in his meeting with Mr. Munir, Trump said: Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me. Israel-Iran conflict LIVE "The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war. And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago, and we're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan," the President said. "They were both here, but I was with Mr. Modi a few weeks ago. He was here actually, but now we speak to him. And I'm so happy that two smart people, plus you know, people on their staff too, but two smart people, two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided that," he said. This is the first time in weeks that Mr. Trump did not take credit for stopping the military conflict after India launched Operation Sindoor and destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Since May 10, when India and Pakistan decided to stop the military conflict, Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed on multiple occasions that he helped settle tensions between the two countries and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America would do a lot of trade with them if they stopped the conflict. Earlier on Thursday, with Mr. Trump repeating his persistent claim that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan, hours after speaking with PM Modi and before meeting Munir, the Congress claimed that he has deflated the hype created by Modi's "PR machinery" and said the prime minister must refute the claims made by the American leader publicly. Congress' media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, asked whether the word of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs is now so weak that they can't even clearly present India's position in a half-hour call with the U.S. President. Mr. Khera's remarks came after Modi spoke with Mr. Trump and set the record straight that India had paused strikes on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor following a request from Islamabad and not due to mediation or a trade deal offer by the U.S. In his 35-minute phone call with Mr. Trump on Tuesday (June 17, 2025), Mr. Modi briefed the U.S. President on Operation Sindoor and made it clear that it has never accepted any third-party mediation and will never accept it in the future, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Hours after his phone conversation with Mr. Modi, Mr. Trump repeated his claim that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan. In a post on X, Mr. Khera quoted Mr. Trump - "I stopped the war. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi last night. We're going to sign a trade deal very soon." "Once again, Donald Trump has deflated the hype created by Modi ji's PR machinery. What we were told through the Foreign Secretary about the contents of a telephone conversation has been publicly contradicted by Mr. Trump," the Congress leader said. Is the word of Mr. Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs now so weak that they can't even clearly present India's position in a half-hour call with the U.S. President? he asked. "When Mr. Trump hyphenated India and Pakistan, the government stayed silent. It was the Opposition that objected," Mr. Khera said. "Now, Mr. Trump has hyphenated Mr. Modi and (Pakistan Army chief Asim) Mr. Munir, and again, the government remains mute. But the Opposition will never accept this insult to the office of India's Prime Minister," he said. Mr. Trump is making these claims himself, neither through officials, nor in private phone calls - he's making them repeatedly, publicly, Mr. Khera pointed out. "It is the Prime Minister who must refute these claims, and he must do so publicly," he asserted.
