Trump used trade as leverage to end Pak-India conflict: White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has reiterated that President Donald Trump’s claim that he helped resolve the Pakistan-India conflict earlier this year by using trade as leverage, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking at a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday, Leavitt said Trump was "very proud" of brokering peace after the April 22 Pahalgam attack triggered Operation Sindoor during which six of Indian warplanes were shot down by Pakistan and raised the risk of a nuclear clash between the neighbouring countries.

"(For) India and Pakistan (conflict), he (Trump) used trade in a very powerful way as leverage to bring that conflict to an end," Leavitt told reporters.

"So, I know he's very proud of all of these achievements, and I know he's very honoured to serve as the President of the United States and to restore peace around the world," she added.

“The President is using the might of American strength to demand that respect from our allies, our friends, our adversaries all around the world,” Leavitt said.

She said that it was seen not only in the progress with Russia and Ukraine but also “in the closing of seven global conflicts around the world”. “We've seen it with the end of the conflict between India and Pakistan, which could have resulted in a nuclear war if we had not had a President who believed in the strength and the leverage that comes with the job of being the President of the United States of America,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt stressed Trump's peace efforts that he claims credit for -- including bringing Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders to the White House and hosting Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo officials for talks on ending long-standing hostilities.

"I think he's proud of all of the peace deals that he's been able to achieve," she said.

The press secretary also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was keeping Trump "apprised of conflicts that are bubbling up all over the world," but added that the president’s current focus remains on the Russia-Ukraine war and the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

During Tuesday’s White House discussions on Ukraine, the US President made two major claims: that he prefers peace agreements over temporary ceasefires and that he has brought six wars to an end since taking office.

Trump and his administration have repeatedly claimed to have helped settle the conflicts between Israel and Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Cambodia and Thailand, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia.

Trump himself has suggested that peace-making in Asia is becoming routine for him. On July 28, he described Southeast Asian tensions as "an easy one," saying, "I’ve settled with India and Pakistan, and Serbia and Kosovo were going at it."

Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 40 times that he “helped settle” the tensions between India and Pakistan.

India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in Parliament that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor.

Earlier in an interview to CNBC, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also accused India of “profiteering” by reselling Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50 percent on India including 25 percent for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil that will come into effect from August 27.

India has called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable”. India said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.–Agencies