The violent crisis between India and Pakistan is exactly the kind of international emergency that would once have prompted a full-on US diplomatic drive to cool tempers and head off a wider war.

But while the US has acted as a mediator in previous crises in South Asia, exerting a calming influence that has helped to avert outright war, Washington may be too distracted by Ukraine and Gaza to be able to resolve the India-Pakistan clash,

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Washington's partner India and U.S. ally Pakistan have "gone tit-for-tat," and that he hoped the two nuclear-armed Asian neighbors could stop further escalations.

The deal will improve access for UK whisky and cars to the Indian market, and cut taxes on India's clothing and footwear exports.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the ceremonial recption of Angola's President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi, India, May 3, 2025.

India and UK have signed the much awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA)with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday terming it as a 'historic milestone" and said it will deepen bilateral ties. The pact will catalyse trade,