In a notable shift, President Donald Trump acknowledged that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir themselves decided to end renewed hostilities between their countries - a rare move away from attributing U.S. intervention . The comments came after Trump hosted General Munir at the White House following separate virtual discussions with both leaders. Trump described them as "very smart people" who deliberately chose to stand down to avert a potential nuclear escalation .

This marks Trump's first public concession that the ceasefire, announced on May 10 during Operation Sindoor, was not brokered by Washington - a reversal from earlier statements claiming U.S. diplomacy had played a central role. Meanwhile, PM Modi has consistently clarified that the de-escalation stemmed purely from direct military-to-military at the request of Pakistan, rejecting any third-party mediation .

The development casts a spotlight on the agency of regional leaders in resolving crises amid global tensions, underscoring India and Pakistan’s strategic restraint and drawing international attention to South Asian diplomacy.