Trump at UN General Assembly: US President again claims credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire – ‘saved 30 million lives’ | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Sept 22) again took credit for helping de-escalate the India-Pakistan conflict, saying Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with saving “30 million lives and probably a lot more than that”.
At the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump described Sharif as a “wonderful man” as he presented what he called his record in settling major global conflicts.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that his intervention, including the threat of tariffs, helped stem hostilities between India and Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
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Trump claimed he helped de-escalate the India-Pakistan conflict and said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with saving “30 million lives”.
India maintains that the May 2025 ceasefire was reached through direct military communication between their armed forces, rather than through any third-party mediation by the US.
Trump indicated that his relationship, along with the use and threat of tariffs, were key tools he used to push countries to negotiate and settle conflicts.
Trump has signaled that he expects to reach a deal with Iran after November’s midterm elections, saying it makes no sense for them not to negotiate.
Trump has called for the complete economic isolation of Iran until it ceases its attacks, abandons its nuclear ambitions and stops supporting terrorism.
His latest remarks came despite New Delhi’s long-standing position that the ceasefire was reached through direct communication between the military leaderships of the two countries, rather than through third-party mediation.
Trump: Pakistan PM says 30 million lives saved
Trump said Sharif personally credited him with averting a potentially devastating conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
“The prime minister of Pakistan, a great man, said that Donald Trump was responsible for saving 30 million lives and probably many more than that,” Trump said.
He included India and Pakistan among the conflicts he said his administration has helped settle since returning to office.
“Since I came into office, I’ve had the great honor of settling eight wars and making friends with the leaders of many of these countries. It’s been a great honor to do that. Many of these wars have been going on for many years and even decades,” Trump said, listing Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Gaza, Pakistan and India, Armenia, Gaza, Pakistan and India.
“Among them the terms of the settlement, Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and of course the war in Gaza, which, as I said, includes the return of all hostages, living and dead,” Trump added.
Trump said many of the countries involved have sent him letters of thanks for his efforts.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending the India-Pakistan conflict, a narrative he has maintained since May 10 last year, when he announced on social media that the two countries had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks brokered by Washington.
India rejects the third-party mediation narrative
Trump’s narrative on the India-Pakistan ceasefire differs from New Delhi’s stated position.
India has consistently rejected the idea that the 2025 ceasefire was the result of US mediation, saying the understanding was reached through direct military-to-military communications between India and Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Trump has repeatedly attributed the de-escalation to his intervention and the leverage provided by US trade and tariff threats.
His latest comments again put the spotlight on competing accounts of how the May 2025 ceasefire was reached.
Trump says tariffs have helped settle conflicts
Trump said trade, tariffs and the threat of tariffs were among the tools he used to get countries to negotiate.
“The reason I was able to make these settlements was to use my relationships, very special relationships, still very, very special today: trade, the use of tariffs and the threat of tariffs and various other reasons depending on the country,” he said.
