• New Delhi says ceasefire followed its own military objectives, not US pressure

ISTANBUL

The US has reiterated its assertion that US President Donald Trump personally intervened to halt the military conflict between India and Pakistan, a claim India continues to reject.

"We got involved directly, and the president was able to deliver on that peace," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday on EWTN’s The World Over, referring to this year’s flare-up between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Rubio dubbed Trump the “president of peace” and referenced other diplomatic efforts during Trump’s leadership, including conflicts in Cambodia, Armenia Azerbaijan, and between the DRC and Rwanda.

India, however, maintains there was no US mediation.

"It is completely incorrect and baseless to say that the military action was stopped because of pressure," Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament last month, insisting the ceasefire resulted from the successful completion of India’s military objectives and a direct request from Pakistan’s military.

Since May, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit, saying he told both countries the US would "do a lot of trade" with them if they halted the conflict.

Analysts suggest Trump’s frustration over India’s rejection of this narrative may be behind the recent sharp hike in tariffs on Indian exports.

"These are things that happened with India," Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center told news agency ANI, noting India’s refusal to let Trump "take credit."

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, imposing an additional 25% tariff on India in response to its continued purchases of Russian oil. With the new order, US tariffs on Indian imports have now reached 50%.

New Delhi has called the US tariffs "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," particularly given that other countries, including China, also maintain strong trade ties with Russia.