Putin and Trump discussed India-Pak conflict during recent phone call, confirms Kremlin aide

Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump discussed the recent India-Pakistan conflict during a phone call held on Wednesday, confirmed Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. Alongside discussions on the ongoing Ukraine war, the two leaders also exchanged views on the Middle East and the South Asian standoff.

Ushakov stated that the India-Pakistan issue was raised briefly, noting Trump's repeated claims of having personally intervened to halt escalations between the two nations. However, India has maintained that the ceasefire understanding was achieved through direct military-level talks between the two countries’ Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs).

In a parallel development, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally requested Russia's assistance in mediating the conflict. His special aide, Syed Tariq Fatemi, delivered a letter from Sharif to President Putin during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Fatemi stated that Pakistan is willing to sit down for talks and is open to any initiative from Russia that could ease tensions with India.

The conflict had escalated following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which prompted India to launch precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with attempted strikes on Indian military bases, but active hostilities ended after talks between the two militaries on May 10.