30 October,2025 10:18 AM IST | Seoul | Agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump. FILE PIC
US President Donald Trump hurled praises to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he is the "nicest looking guy", a "killer", and "tough as hell". But in the same breath, Trump once again waded into the India-Pakistan conflict by claiming he stopped their recent military hostilities.
"Prime Minister Modi is the nicest looking guy. He looks like you'd like to have your father," Trump said while speaking at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.
Trump landed in South Korea Wednesday morning from Japan as part of a three-nation tour of Asia. While emphasising that he has a "great relationship" with Modi, Trump reiterated that he used trade to resolve the war between India and Pakistan.
"I called Prime Minister Modi. I said, we can't make a trade deal with you. [Modi said] No, no, we must make a trade. I said, no, we can't. You are starting a war with Pakistan. We're not going to do it," Trump said.
"Then I called Pakistan. I said, we're not going to do trade with you because you're fighting with India and you know, two nuclear nations. And they said, no, no, no, you should let us fight. They both said that," he added. Trump claimed that the leaders of both India and Pakistan called him after two days and stopped fighting.
âDoing trade deal with India'
Trump said that the US is "doing a trade deal with India" as the two sides continue to hold talks on the proposed trade pact. Trump's comment came at a time when the relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe strain after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including an additional 25 per cent levies for its procurement of Russian crude oil.
âShrunken 56-inch chest'
The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at PM Modi over Trump repeating his ceasefire claim and said "the self-styled but now thoroughly shrunken and deeply exposed 56-inch chest is still quiet".
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X video clips of Trump's remarks in Japan and later in South Korea in which he repeated his claim that he stopped the India-Pakistan military conflict using trade.
"So far he has said it 54 times," Ramesh said. "No wonder his good friend in New Delhi does not want to hug him any more," the Congress leader said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi "challenged" PM Modi to refute US President Trump, who has been repeatedly saying that Operation Sindoor was stopped under American pressure.
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