U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy with a fresh claim that his intervention — specifically the threat of imposing massive tariffs — ended the recent conflict between India and Pakistan. In an interview aired on Fox News on Sunday, Trump said his pressure tactics “saved millions of lives” after both nuclear-armed neighbours allegedly exchanged fire resulting in seven planes being shot down.
“The threat of tariffs, as an example, kept India and Pakistan, two nuclear nations, from going at it. They were going at it — seven planes were shot down; that’s a lot. That could have been a nuclear war,” Trump said, without clarifying which side’s aircraft were lost.
According to Trump, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised him for his efforts, reportedly telling him that he had “saved millions of lives.” Trump further claimed he warned both governments that Washington would impose 200 percent tariffs and sever trade ties unless hostilities ceased. “After 24 hours, I settled the war,” he said.
The U.S. president’s comments refer to the four-day conflict earlier this year, which began after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted militant bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, escalating into cross-border drone and missile exchanges until both countries reached a ceasefire on May 10.
While Trump insists Washington’s pressure ended the fighting, India maintains that the de-escalation followed direct military-level talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of both nations — not U.S. mediation. New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s claims as exaggerated and inconsistent with diplomatic reality.
Despite India’s official stance, Trump continues to repeat his version of events, portraying himself as the decisive peacemaker who averted a potential nuclear confrontation in South Asia.