Donald Trump again claimed he ended India-Pakistan hostilities, alleging tariff threats compelled both nations to halt escalating military confrontation.
United States President Donald Trump on Thursday repeated his assertion that he personally intervened to stop a military confrontation between India and Pakistan last year, claiming he threatened to impose 200% tariffs on both countries if they did not cease fighting. Speaking at an event organised by the Board of Peace in Washington, Trump said economic pressure through trade leverage played a decisive role in bringing the two nuclear-armed neighbours back from the brink of a wider conflict.
Addressing leaders gathered at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, held at the United States Institute of Peace, Trump stated that he had ended eight wars within the first year of his second term in the White House. Among them, he highlighted the India-Pakistan standoff, describing it as one of the most serious crises due to the nuclear capabilities of both countries.
Tariff Threat and Ceasefire Claim
During his remarks, Trump alleged that the confrontation between India and Pakistan had intensified last summer, with multiple fighter jets reportedly shot down and tensions escalating rapidly. He claimed that after learning about the developments, he directly contacted leaders from both nations and warned that the United States would suspend trade negotiations and impose sweeping 200% tariffs if hostilities did not stop immediately.
Trump said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, asserting that financial consequences proved more persuasive than diplomatic appeals. According to Trump, both nations “softened up” once the economic implications became clear, leading to what he described as a rapid de-escalation within two to three days.
He further claimed that as many as 11 fighter jets had been shot down during the confrontation, though he did not specify which country’s aircraft were involved. Trump characterised the situation as a full-scale conflict that could have spiralled into a nuclear crisis, stating that millions of lives were potentially at stake.
Trump also praised Pakistan’s military leadership, referring to Field Marshal Asim Munir as a strong and capable figure. He reiterated that Sharif had earlier credited him with saving millions of lives by preventing the conflict from escalating further.
India, however, has consistently denied any third-party mediation in the ceasefire understanding with Pakistan. New Delhi has maintained that the cessation of hostilities followed direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries.
The confrontation referenced by Trump followed India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was conducted in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Diplomatic Narratives and Political Reactions
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over the nature of U.S. involvement in South Asian security dynamics. While Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan, Indian officials have emphasised that bilateral military channels handled the de-escalation process without external mediation.
At the Washington event, Sharif was present alongside leaders of other countries participating in the Trump-led Board of Peace initiative. Trump invited Sharif to stand as he recounted the episode, publicly thanking him and describing the resolution as a significant diplomatic achievement.
Trump also suggested that trade leverage remains a powerful instrument in U.S. foreign policy, indicating that economic measures can compel adversaries to reconsider military escalation. He said both India and Pakistan conduct substantial trade with the United States, and the prospect of losing access to American markets played a decisive role in altering their stance.
The U.S. President’s repeated assertions have drawn varied reactions internationally. Supporters argue that economic diplomacy can be an effective conflict-resolution tool, while critics question the accuracy of the claims and the extent of Washington’s involvement in the ceasefire process.
Since May last year, Trump has publicly claimed more than 80 times that he stopped the India-Pakistan conflict, framing it as a signature achievement of his second presidential term. He has frequently referenced the episode in speeches as evidence of his administration’s proactive peace-building approach.
Indian officials continue to reiterate that the understanding on cessation of hostilities was reached strictly through bilateral military dialogue. Pakistan has not formally contradicted Trump’s statements, though official accounts from both countries have emphasised direct engagement between their armed forces.
The issue remains sensitive in diplomatic circles, particularly given the strategic and nuclear dimensions of India-Pakistan relations. Trump’s remarks once again place the spotlight on competing narratives surrounding last year’s confrontation and the broader role of economic pressure in international conflict resolution.
