Pakistan’s backing of Trump’s peace claim aims to portray India as dishonest, impacting India’s U.S. ties and weakening its narrative of Pakistan as a terror sponsor.
As the world shakily endeavors to reconcile with unfinished wars—some still raging, others forcibly shut down by the United States—there is deep anxiety about how long peace will truly last. Strangely, the one conflict that has not found space in the matrix of a transactional President Donald Trump is the bloody war in Gaza, fought between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinians. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, more than 55,000 people have been killed, including a staggering 12,000 children. It is baffling that the dealmaker President Trump never considered it important to use his immense military, financial strength, and global influence to stop the war in Gaza.
Instead, President Trump considers his intervention to halt a potential war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan worthy of a Nobel Prize—a claim that India officially denies. Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, who managed to secure a lunch invite at the White House, forcefully endorsed Trump’s assertion that it was he alone who stopped the conflict. By backing Trump, Munir and Pakistan aim to portray India as dishonest. This alignment with Washington could have long-term security and foreign policy implications for India. For years, India has been working to build closer ties with the U.S. while gradually distancing itself from China- and Russia-centered regional alliances. However, India’s efforts to brand Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism are starting to lose steam, while Islamabad and its military have visibly improved their global profile with U.S. support.
Pakistan’s endorsement of Trump as a peacemaker is critical for the maverick U.S. President, who is trying to burnish his credentials—especially after allegedly brokering peace between Iran and Israel. The so-called “12-day war,” as Trump refers to it, came to a sudden halt after Iran retaliated against U.S. bases in response to the U.S. using bunker-buster bombs via B-2 aircraft on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. While Israel is being portrayed as the victor for drawing the U.S. into deploying its superior arsenal, growing evidence suggests that the U.S. failed to destroy the targeted sites. Israeli media even alleges this was deliberate, as Iran had given advance notice to the U.S. about its planned retaliatory strike on the naval base in Doha, Qatar, and its six missiles failed to hit the base effectively.
The ceasefire echoed previous patterns seen between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. It was evident that Trump did not want either Israel or Iran to escalate the situation further. Moreover, the U.S. wanted to avoid Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, which could have thrown global shipping and oil prices into turmoil. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through this 20-kilometer-wide strait, which is controlled by Iran. In addition to Hormuz, Iran’s declaration of war triggered the Houthis, who began launching hypersonic missiles at Israel and ships passing through the Red Sea.
For Israel, too, ending the war made strategic sense. Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon remarked that the President was trying to save Israel from destruction. While many facts remain buried, the physical damage in Israel has been extensive. In some places, Israeli cities resemble Gaza. Interviews with Israeli refugees in Cyprus reveal that many never expected the war with Iran to be so severe. Numerous Israelis report having been unable to sleep for weeks. A viral social media reel even showed Israel’s Defense Minister being confronted by local residents for their suffering. All this suggests that both Israel and Iran were keen to end the conflict.
Prime Minister Netanyahu managed to draw the U.S. into the war, fully aware that without American bunker-buster bombs, the Israeli Air Force could not reach the depths of Fordow. While Israeli aircraft can penetrate up to 20 meters, U.S. bombs can reach depths of around 80 meters. Still, according to alleged U.S. intelligence leaks, the intended targets may have escaped destruction. Though Trump denies this, the belief that Iran’s nuclear facilities survived is enough for Israel to continue asserting that Iran remains a nuclear threat—and to push the U.S. for another strike soon.
SANJAY KAPOOR is a Senior Journalist based out of Delhi. He is a foreign policy specialist focused on India, its neighbourhood and West Asia. He is the Founder and Editor of Hardnews Magazine. He is a Member of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) and, until recently, served as the General Secretary of EGI.
(Cover Photo Credit: Canva)
BombingDonald TrumpGazaGenocideIranIsraelNobel Peace PrizeNuclear TreatyNuclear WeaponsPakistanPalestinePoliticsWar