In a first, Trump says two leaders of India-Pak 'decided' to stop conflict
New York/Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump said the two “very smart” leaders of India and Pakistan “decided” not to continue a war that could have turned nuclear, the first time in weeks he did not credit himself for stopping of hostilities between the two neighbouring nations.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to the media in the Oval Office after hosting Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday.
Trump said he was “honoured" to meet Munir.
When asked if Iran was discussed in his meeting with Munir, Trump said: “Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me."
“The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war. And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago, and we're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan," the president said.
“They were both here, but I was with Modi a few weeks ago. He was here actually, but now we speak to him. And I'm so happy that two smart people, plus you know, people on their staff too, but two smart people, two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided that.”
This is the first time in weeks when Trump did not take credit for stopping the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
Since May 10, when India and Pakistan decided to stop the military conflict, Trump has repeatedly claimed on multiple occasions that he “helped settle” tensions between the two countries and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America would do a “lot of trade” with them if they stopped the conflict.
Modi and Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, but the American president returned to Washington early.
Before departing Kananaskis and wrapping up his first visit to Canada in a decade, Modi had a 35-minute phone conversation with Trump.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a video message from Kananaskis, said Modi conveyed to Trump that at “no point” during Operation Sindoor was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal or any proposal for mediation by the US between India and Pakistan.
The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Islamabad's request.
Modi firmly said India will never accept the mediation of a third party, and there is complete political consensus in India on this matter, Misri said.
Misri also noted that following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Trump expressed his condolences to Modi over a phone call and expressed his support against terrorism.
The phone call on Tuesday in Kananaskis was the “first conversation” between the two leaders since April.
Misri said Trump listened carefully to the points conveyed by the prime minister and expressed his support towards India’s fight against terrorism.
Modi conveyed that India no longer views terrorism as a proxy war, but as a war itself, and that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.
Trump enquired if Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada, but the prime minister was scheduled to depart for Croatia, the last leg of his three-nation tour that began in Cyprus.
Misri said that due to prior commitments, Modi expressed his inability to visit Washington, and both leaders agreed to make efforts to meet soon.
Earlier in the day, Trump said he spoke to Modi, “a fantastic man”, and stressed the two countries will have a trade deal while repeating his claim that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan.
"Well, I stopped the war. I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We're going to make a trade deal with Modi of India. But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Trump was asked what he was looking to achieve diplomatically from the meeting with Munir. “This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side,” Trump said, referring to the army chief.
“Modi, from the Indian side, and others. They were going at it, and they're both nuclear countries. I got it stopped. I don't think I had one story. Did I have one story written? I stopped the war between two major nations, major nuclear nations. I don't think I had a story written about it,” he said, adding that the people know.
About two weeks after the April 22 terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Sources in New Delhi have since maintained that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop the military action with immediate effect. They said no third party was involved.
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Eight black-capped capuchin monkeys arrive at Bannerghatta zoo
Bengaluru (PTI): Bannerghatta Biological Park on Monday announced the successful import of eight black-capped capuchin monkeys from a wildlife facility in South Africa under an animal exchange programme.
The four male and four female monkeys (Sapajus apella) were imported from the Induna Primate and Parrot Park in South Africa and arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport at around 9 pm on December 14, BBP said in a statement.
The exchange, carried out under a duly approved animal exchange programme, aims to strengthen conservation initiatives, enhance genetic diversity of the captive population, promote visitor awareness, and support scientific research, the statement said.
According to BBP officials, the import was conducted in strict compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
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Prior approvals were obtained from the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, along with no-objection certificates from the State Chief Wildlife Warden, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Import permits were also secured from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Department of Animal Husbandry, officials said.
"All animals were inspected and quarantined in South Africa as per the prescribed guidelines. In addition, advance no-objection certificates were obtained from the Animal Quarantine Services before importation," the statement said.
Upon arrival, the capuchins were placed in a designated quarantine facility and will undergo post-import health checks before being moved to the zoo premises for public display, officials said.
"This initiative underscores Bannerghatta Biological Park’s continued commitment to global conservation collaboration, scientific animal management, and compliance with national and international wildlife regulations," the statement added.
The exchange programme further strengthens BBP’s role in promoting best practices in ex-situ conservation and wildlife education.
