A series of military strikes last week by India and Pakistan brought the nuclear-armed rivals closer to a broader war.

With last-minute U.S. mediation, cooler heads prevailed between India and Pakistan. But a flare-up is inevitable.

India has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump's assertion that his intervention prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. The External Affairs Ministry confirmed that military actions were entirely conventional,

“This world is a lot safer today than it was a week ago,” Trump crowed to reporters as he sized up the foreign policy challenges he’s facing as he heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. “And a lot safer than it was six months ago.”

President Donald Trump is expected on Monday to embark on an official visit to the Middle East, a major international trip during which he and his diplomats will continue pushing for peace between Russia and Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip.

The issues of China trade talks, a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, the Ukraine war and Gaza hostages have been in the president's in-tray.