No trade reference in India-US calls during Pakistan conflict, contrary to Trump's claim: Report

No discussions on trade were held between Indian and US leaders during the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, PTI reported, citing people aware of the matter, refuting claims by US President Donald Trump that he pressured New Delhi and Islamabad to halt hostilities by threatening to cut trade ties.

The clarification came after Trump, speaking at a White House press conference, asserted that his administration brokered a ceasefire between the two South Asian neighbours by leveraging trade.

He claimed the US stopped a "nuclear conflict" by warning India and Pakistan that trade would be halted if hostilities continued.

According to the PTI report, US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9 as the military conflict between India and Pakistan escalated following Operation Sindoor.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also held conversations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on May 8 and May 10, and with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on May 10.

"There was no reference to trade in any of these discussions," PTI quoted the sources as saying.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the four-day conflict, which was marked by intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

Trump, announcing a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to lower prescription drug costs, claimed the ceasefire was a "full and immediate" resolution to a "dangerous conflict" between two nuclear-armed nations.

"I said, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let's stop it. If you stop it, we're doing trade. If you don't stop it, we're not going to do any trade'," Trump said, adding that India and Pakistan halted hostilities due to trade incentives.