'Saved 30 to 50 million lives': Trump repeats claim of ending India-Pakistan conflict, amid Iran war
Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that he ended the India-Pakistan conflict, stating that he “saved 30 to 50 million lives,” amid the ongoing war with Iran that has been going on for 6 weeks.
According to Hindustan Times, speaking at a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had played a key role in stopping multiple global conflicts.
“I ended 8 wars, including India and Pakistan, so much so that the Prime Minister of Pakistan told me that I saved 30 to 50 million lives,” HT quoted Trump as saying.
He repeated the claim a second time in the same press conference, saying that he stopped 8 wars, including the India-Pakistan conflict, and lamented again about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
The India-Pakistan tensions had escalated in May last year following Operation Sindoor, launched by India after the Pahalgam terror attack. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 3-day conflict was ended by him, though India has repeatedly denied the claim.
“We have one more to end by the way,” Trump said, though he did not specify if the war in Iran, Ukraine or another global conflict was on his radar.
He also criticised NATO and key US allies, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia, for not supporting US efforts in addressing global conflicts and securing strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
“You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Japan. We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea. We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well,” Trump said.
He described the consequences that Iran would face if it didn’t reach a deal with the US by his 8 PM ET Tuesday deadline.
“We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night,” Trump said, adding that power plants could be “burning, exploding and never to be used again.”
Trump refused to say whether any civilian targets would be off limits in the U.S. response.
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CM, Cong high command to decide on cabinet rejig, says Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command will decide on the cabinet reshuffle amid mounting pressure within the ruling party to effect a change, aimed at providing opportunity to fresh faces.
A group of legislators has already decided to go to New Delhi later this month, after the bypolls, to meet and discuss the cabinet reshuffle with the high command.
"I don't know what they will do about the reshuffle. What can I say about it? The chief minister and the high command have to decide. It is left to their discretion. It is not right on our part to speculate about it," Parameshwara said in response to a question raised by reporters.
Stating that the high command would observe everything, he said, "First-timers (MLAs) came and said they want to become ministers; also, two to four time MLAs said they too want to become ministers. They held separate dinner meetings to discuss. They have brought things to the notice of the high command and the leadership will decide on what needs to be done."
"The AICC general secretary in-charge will look into the matter and try to resolve it at his level or report to the leadership. Such things are not new for the Congress. While running governments in several states, such things keep occurring, and the high command will look into it and set things right. They will do it," he added.
A group of senior Congress legislators, who have been MLAs for over three terms, met Siddaramaiah last month, urging him to rejig his cabinet and give them an opportunity to serve as ministers.
The group of about 40 legislators had said that they had planned to go to New Delhi together on April 11 after the bypolls, to meet the Congress high command and discuss including at least 20 of them during the reshuffle.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
Ahead of meeting the CM, the group of aspirants met over dinner and discussed the much-awaited state cabinet rejig. Some first and second time legislators have also recently pressed for a cabinet reshuffle.
The demand for a cabinet reshuffle has come to the fore, amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling party over the CM post.
Parameshwara on Monday asserted that Siddaramaiah will continue as the chief minister for the full five-year term under the "current situation." He, however, maintained that any decision regarding the leadership change rests solely with the Congress high command.
When asked if the high command had indicated anything regarding Siddaramaiah continuing as CM, Parameshwara said on Tuesday, "Why repeatedly ask the same question? What I said yesterday is done. Why do you want me to repeat it?"
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favors a cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the leadership change.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar from occupying the coveted post.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister.
Two cabinet berths are currently vacant, following the resignation of B Nagendra over allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the sacking of K N Rajanna on the instructions of the party high command.
