In a recent interview, former US President Donald Trump described Pakistanis as “brilliant people” and expressed a strong desire to expand trade ties with the country. Trump also claimed significant credit for defusing what he described as a near-nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India amid heightened tensions earlier this year.
Trump recounted how missile exchanges and escalating military retaliation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours had brought the region dangerously close to nuclear war. He highlighted his administration’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy, saying, “That was going to be a nuclear war, I think, or close… And now everyone’s happy.”
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Emphasizing trade as a tool for peace, Trump said he urged his team to engage both countries economically to help ease tensions. “I told my people, call them up—let’s start trading immediately,” he said, praising Pakistan’s leadership and products while pointing out the currently limited trade between the US and Pakistan.
Trump also criticised India’s high tariffs, calling them “the highest in the world,” but acknowledged recent Indian willingness to reduce tariffs on US goods. He portrayed his diplomatic efforts as a major, yet underappreciated, achievement of his presidency in preventing a global catastrophe.
The recent escalation began in April following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, leading to reciprocal military strikes and diplomatic actions between India and Pakistan. The confrontation peaked with missile strikes on both sides before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced in May.
