Trump: US used trade pressure to secure India-Pakistan ceasefire

NEW DELHI: The United States used trade as a tool to make India and Pakistan end their military hostilities last week, President Donald Trump said during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

"Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan," Trump said in remarks at a Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh Tuesday.

"And I used trade to a large extent to do it. And I said, 'Fellows, come on. Let's make a deal. Let's do some trading'," Trump said.

His remarks were greeted with applause from those present, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

A number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, made contact with Indian and Pakistani leaders to urge them to exercise restraint before the two nations clashed by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at each other between May 7 and May 10.

US Vice President J.D Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio prodded the two countries to agree to a ceasefire on May 10.

"Let's not trade nuclear missiles. Let's trade the things that you make so beautifully. And they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders. And it all stopped. Hopefully, it'll remain that way, but it all stopped," Trump told the forum in Riyadh.

-- BERNAMA