Former US President Donald Trump emphasized the role of trade diplomacy in defusing tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India, following a period of heightened military escalation. Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh, Trump highlighted the United States’ behind–the-scenes efforts to help broker a fragile ceasefire between the two nations.
Trump described the truce as a significant diplomatic victory and shared how he encouraged both countries to pursue economic cooperation instead of conflict. “I told their leaders, ‘Let’s focus on trade, not weapons. You both produce amazing goods—start exchanging those instead,’” he said.
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He lauded the leadership in both nations as “intelligent and capable” and credited their willingness to cooperate with ending the hostilities. “Everything stopped, and hopefully it stays that way,” Trump added, noting how close the situation had come to escalating into full-scale war.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, acknowledged that while the ceasefire remains fragile, American diplomacy played a key role in de-escalation. He called for continued US involvement in resolving longstanding issues like the Kashmir dispute, underscoring the need for sustained engagement to maintain regional peace.
