US President Donald Trump said he had prevented a "nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan after the two countries announced a ceasefire on Saturday, ending the most serious confrontation between them in two decades, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"We prevented a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war, millions of people could have been killed, so I'm very proud", Trump told reporters at the White House.
The US president hailed the fact that his government helped achieve a "complete and immediate" ceasefire. He expressed hope that the ceasefire would be lasting, adding that it had ended a "dangerous conflict between two countries with multiple nuclear weapons". "If you stop, we will trade; if you don't stop, we will not trade", Trump also said. According to him, trade was a major reason for India and Pakistan to stop fighting, Reuters adds.
Last week, India and Pakistan were on the brink of a new open war. The two sides attacked each other with drones, shelled each other with artillery and launched missile strikes, AFP recalls. There were no signs of abating hostilities, but on Saturday afternoon Trump surprised everyone by announcing that he had achieved a "complete and immediate ceasefire" after intensive diplomatic negotiations led by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Delhi and Islamabad soon confirmed that they had agreed "directly" to implement the terms of the ceasefire.
While announcing the agreement on Saturday, Trump mentioned discussions on a "Kashmir solution." However, an Indian government source quickly dismissed such a possibility.
Tensions between the two neighbors escalated after 26 tourists, mostly Indians, were killed in Delhi-administered Kashmir on April 22. India accused Pakistan of supporting the alleged perpetrators of the attack. Islamabad denied any involvement in the act.