Various versions of a saying on the TRUTH and LIE are available on internet and people quote them as per their convenience.

A lie can travel halfway around the world
while the truth is still putting on its shoes.

A lie can travel half way around the world
while the truth is putting on its shoes.

A lie travels halfway around the world
while the truth tightens laces of its shoes.

The aforesaid quote(s) is generally attributed to Mark Twain, who was a famous American writer, humorist and essayist of 19th century vintage. However, some people also relate it to his contemporary CH Spurgeon, an influential English Baptist preacher and writer. The essence of the saying is that the falsehood spreads very rapidly and widely, while the more authentic and irrefutable truth takes time to be disseminated and realized by the masses. Lies are very often catchy, shocking and designed for quick dissemination while, in contrast, the truth is usually heavy and complex which takes its time through the processes of verifying, understanding and attaining an outreach. All this is more so common and relevant these days.

The quote remains highly relevant, especially in the modern age with the revolution in information technology with simultaneous advent of social media, where be it information or misinformation, both can spread much faster like a virus. It’s an irony and shame as well that politicians world over are particularly resorting to falsehood for their own personal or professional objects. This is even more relevant and pronounced in the context of the present leadership of the United States of America (USA) and the opposition leaders and parties in India. Owing to his constant idiosyncrasies, many people have started believing that American President Mr. Donald J. Trump is a narcissist and egoist, and some even go the extent of calling him a megalomaniac, better known for his erratic ways and current obsession for the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to reports, the Norwegian Nobel Committee is likely to announce the Nobel Peace Prize winner on 10 October 2025. In February 2025, President Trump cribbed, "They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. I deserve it, but they will never give it." His press secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen in July arguing, among other things, that it was "well past time" that President Trump won the prize. Other members of President's top team too have been adding pinnacle from time to time. For instance, only recently one of his confidante Steve Witkoff cited him as the "single finest" Nobel candidate in history owing to his game-changing work.

During the recent faceoff between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025 killing 26 innocent people on consideration of their religion (i.e. being Hindu) and consequent launching of the “Operation Sindoor” on 7 May by the Indian armed forces against the perpetrators (terrorists) based in Pakistan, a ceasefire was implemented on 10 May 2025. The following day, the highest Indian military brass revealed in a press conference that the proposal for the ceasefire was made by the Director General of Military Operation (DGMO) of Pakistan on 10 May (FN) which was agreed to by the Indian side and, accordingly, the same was implemented by both sides with effect from 5.00 PM on the same date. India has all along maintained that the dispute between India and Pakistan on Kashmir is a bilateral issue and the country would never accept any intervention or mediation from any third party. During his earlier stint and the present spell as American President, Mr. Donald Trump expressed his desire for mediation between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue but India made it it clear that the country is against any third party role on the subject. Notwithstanding this position, the Pakistani leadership approached the USA and many other countries, particularly from the Arab world, requesting them to intervene for a ceasefire. It's obvious that they were in constant touch because the US President pre-empted such declaration by the affected parties and claimed that the ceasefire between the two countries was made at his behest. Later on, the spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry of India reiterated that there was no third-party role in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan on 10 May 2025 and that the same had materialized at the request of Pakistan.

At this, the US President admitted that they had no direct role of mediation for a ceasefire but their country facilitated it. Nonetheless, if we look at the subsequent developments, Pakistan’s titular political leadership as well as de facto boss General Asim Munir repeatedly acknowledged and appreciated the role of US President during four days war leading to a ceasefire and even recommended President Donald Trump's candidature for a Nobel Peace Prize. The President himself and his White House staff have already more than once claimed that Mr Trump has been instrumental in 6-7 peace agreements among the warring countries, including India and Pakistan, across the globe and is well deserved candidate for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Notwithstanding such tall claims, the nature of dispute or conflict among so stated countries, ceasefire or peace agreements arrived at, and the role and contribution of the American President has remained debatable. The fact is not hidden about what is the current status on ground between Russia and Ukraine war. Similarly, in the context of tall claims of the American President on India - Pakistan conflict, although India has avoided making any direct comments on President Trump’s claims yet the country has remained firm and consistent on its stand that the ceasefire on 10 May 2025 was agreed only on Pakistan's request. Further, the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan is a bilateral issue and there is no scope or role for any other country or third party in it.

During the last four months and till now, President Donald Trump has repeatedly, and tirelessly, claimed that he was one who brokered peace between India and Pakistan. He even claimed that he personally spoke to Indian Prime Minister Modi and threatened that he will stop all trade unless they immediately stop hostilities and, hence, the ceasefire was achieved. At different occasions, he has opted for different versions, too. On his part, Prime Minister Modi made a statement in Parliament that the two leaders had direct telephonic talk only in June 2025 during the G7 Summit in Canada, after the Pahalgam attack, which in itself vindicated the correct position.

The Pakistani leadership and General Asim Munir endorsed and appreciated Mr. Trump's role on many occasions; the latter has been, in fact, twice invited by the US during the last few months. President Trump's averments have been well received by the opposition leaders too in India, who have used US President’s claims to embarrass Prime Minister Modi, the Indian government and ruling Bhartiya Janta Party. According to the assessment of many political analysts, the India and US relations are currently passing through their worst phase of turmoil owing to these developments. Although, on record, such a situation has arisen due to strong differences between the two countries over the trade agreement and import of the Russian crude oil but some political analysts and realists agree that the current US tirade against India, including the imposition of 50% tariff on the import of Indian goods, is mainly on account of the US President’s personal grudge against India, which has constantly refused to endorse the former’s claim of having brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan. According to some reports, President Donald Trump has so far repeated his claim on India-Pakistan ceasefire at least forty times. But, just about four days back, the truth has finally rolled out from the horse's mouth. On the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic emergency summit in Doha, Qatar, in an interview with the Arab News Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that India had categorically rejected any third-party mediation during the Operation Sindoor, while Islamabad welcomed such move. When specifically asked about negotiations with India and/or Pakistan’s openness to a third-party involvement, Mr. Dar said, “We don’t mind, but India has categorically been stating it’s a bilateral matter...” He further divulged with the anchor that when he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July 2025 and asked about dialogue with India, the top US diplomat clarified that India has maintained it is a “bilateral issue.”

So as it appears, the truth has finally fastened its shoes, arrived, and started running too across the globe. We shall now await if and how the US diplomats or even Mr. President himself reacts or respond to the aforesaid confession of the Pakistani foreign minister. Nonetheless, liars never feel shy and tired in telling lies because the falsehood gives them break and initial advantage, and in many cases, a lot of damage is also done before the truth finally rolls out.