Wed May 28 18:07:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, has claimed in a US court submission that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following India’s Operation Sindoor, was only achieved due to intervention by then-President Donald Trump, who offered both countries trading access to the US to avert a full-scale war. This claim directly contradicts previous statements by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, which asserted the ceasefire was reached through direct contact, not US mediation, and that trade was never discussed during relevant conversations. The US statement comes amidst ongoing trade negotiations between India and the US, as well as trade disputes at the WTO.

**News Article:**

**US Claims Trump Intervention Secured India-Pakistan Ceasefire, India Denies Trade Bargain**

**New Delhi – May 29, 2025** – The United States government, through a court submission by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, has asserted that the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan was brokered solely by then-President Donald Trump, who allegedly offered both nations trading access to the U.S. in exchange for de-escalation.

“This ceasefire was only achieved after President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States to avert a full-scale war,” Lutnick stated in the filing related to a lawsuit challenging Trump-era tariffs.

The claim directly contradicts earlier statements from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal previously clarified that while conversations between Indian and U.S. leaders occurred during the period in question, the issue of trade was never broached. India maintains the ceasefire was forged through direct communication, not through American mediation.

“The Indian government has made its stand on the ceasefire amply clear,” Jaiswal said in response to the latest U.S. statement.

The timing of the US claim is notable, occurring as India and the U.S. engage in advanced trade deal negotiations, with a deadline of July 9 for resolving global retaliatory tariffs. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently concluded a trip to the U.S. where he met with Lutnick. Simultaneously, both nations are embroiled in disputes at the World Trade Organization.

The U.S. has argued its tariffs on steel and aluminum are matters of national security, a position India contests. The US court submission warns that challenging President Trump’s ability to impose tariffs “could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump’s offer, threatening the security of an entire region and the lives of millions”

The conflicting narratives raise questions about the true dynamics behind the ceasefire and the role of external influence in resolving tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

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