Stopped India, Pak from entering a 'nuclear conflict', says US Prez

INDIAN AND U.S. NEGOTIATORS ARE CURRENTLY FINALISING THE FIRST TRANCHE OF A TRADE DEAL WHICH COULD BE CONCLUDED BY THE FALL OF 2025

- Agencies

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday said that his administration stopped a "nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan, telling the South Asian neighbours that America will do a "lot of trade" with them if they end hostilities.

"On Saturday, my administration helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire, I think, a permanent one between India and Pakistan, ending a dangerous conflict of two nations with lots of nuclear weapons," Trump said at the start of a press conference in the White House where he announced that he will set a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

He started the briefing by describing "the historic events that took place over the last few days" in the Indian subcontinent.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. The ceasefire was announced by Trump at 5:30 pm on Saturday, but India later said the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries reached an understanding, and that no third party was involved.

Trump said that India and Pakistan "were going at it hot and heavy, and it was seemingly not going to stop." "I'm very proud to let you know that the leadership of India and Pakistan was unwavering, powerful, but unwavering in both cases, having the strength and the wisdom and fortitude to fully know and to understand the gravity of the situation," he said.

The US President said he told India and Pakistan that America will do "a lot of trade" with them if they stop the conflict.

"And we helped a lot, and we helped also with trade. I said, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let's stop it. Let's stop it. If you stop it, we're doing trade. If you don't stop it, we're not going to do any trade.'"