Trump vows to boost trade with India, Pakistan after ceasefire
US President Donald Trump
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
US President Donald Trump has declared that he will increase trade “substantially” with both India and Pakistan in appreciation of their understanding that it was time to end the current aggression.
Disregarding India’s consistent rejection of third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue, Trump also said he would work with both India and Pakistan to explore whether a solution could be found.
“I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision (of ceasefire). While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great nations,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.
The US President’s announcement on increasing trade is significant, as India and the US are in the process of formally beginning negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). The pact could give India a chance to avoid the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which were announced against trade partners running surpluses with Washington.
Trump has so far labelled India a tariff abuser and a tariff king, and claimed that New Delhi would eventually bring all its tariffs down to zero for the US.
“The Indian government has to wait to see what Trump really means when he says he will increase trade substantially with India. It would be favourable only if he means it in terms of increasing imports from India,” a person tracking the matter told businessline.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a night of US-mediated talks. His announcement came before the Indian government could formally share the important information on the ceasefire with its citizens.
India, however, did not corroborate Trump’s claims of mediation. In an official briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the decision to pause the firing was taken after Pakistan reached out to India on Saturday afternoon.
“The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 15:35 hours. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea with effect from 17:00 hours today (Saturday). Instructions have been given on both sides to implement the understanding,” Misri said.
In a second post, Trump said he was very proud of the strong and unwavering leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully understand that it was time to end the current aggression. It could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much, he added.
“Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!” Trump said, once again emphasising the role played by the US in halting India-Pakistan aggression.
In the early hours of May 7, two weeks after a terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, India launched strikes targeting nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan. This led to an exchange of fire and retaliatory strikes between the two countries before a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10.
While India reported instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan shortly after the announcement, subsequent reports indicated that the ceasefire was largely holding and that the guns had fallen silent.
Published on May 11, 2025
