Washington DC (Rajeev Sharma): U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred international attention by reiterating his claim that he helped halt a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, allegedly preventing a wider conflict that, he says, could have escalated to nuclear war.
In a recent interview aired on Fox News, Trump asserted that both nations were on the verge of an all-out war, with “seven planes” being shot down during the clashes — although he did not specify the nationality of the aircraft.
“They were going at it — seven jets were taken down. And it could have gone nuclear,” Trump said. “But I stepped in and said we’re imposing 200% tariffs. That threat was enough to stop everything.”
According to Trump, both India and Pakistan were warned that their access to U.S. markets would be blocked unless they halted hostilities. “We told them, you won’t be doing business with us if this continues,” he claimed.
Trump also said that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed gratitude for his role in stopping the confrontation, claiming the Pakistani leader acknowledged that “millions of lives” were saved.
This is not the first time Trump has taken credit for brokering peace between the two South Asian rivals. Earlier this year, he announced via social media that a ceasefire agreement had been reached following what he described as intense negotiations led by Washington.
However, officials in India have consistently rejected the narrative that any foreign government mediated the ceasefire. According to New Delhi, the de-escalation was achieved through direct military communication between the two countries, specifically between their respective Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO).
The conflict in question took place in early May, following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting militant camps across the Line of Control, including areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. What followed was a brief but intense exchange involving drone and missile strikes.
On May 10, a mutual agreement to end hostilities was announced by both sides. But while Trump has since insisted that U.S. diplomatic pressure brought about the ceasefire, Indian officials have maintained that the resolution was reached independently.
Trump’s assertion about seven downed aircraft has also not been verified by either side, and no official records or statements from New Delhi or Islamabad confirm such losses.
The latest remarks have drawn mixed reactions. While supporters view it as an example of Trump’s bold diplomacy, critics have questioned the accuracy of the details and the nature of the U.S.’s actual involvement.
As Trump continues his campaign for a political comeback, his retelling of events from his presidency has become a recurring feature of his public appearances — even when those events remain contested or unclear.
