Trump Claims Role in India-Pakistan Conflict Resolution

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his assertion that he played a significant role in easing tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan earlier this year, attributing his influence to the use of tariffs. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, "If I didn't have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging. I use tariffs to stop wars. If you look at India and Pakistan, they were ready to go at it. Seven planes were shot down. They were ready to go at it. And then nuclear powers. I don't want to say exactly what I said, but what I said was very effective. They stopped. And that was based on tariffs."

He further claimed that tariffs not only generate significant revenue for the United States but also position the country as a peacekeeper. "Tariffs are very important for the United States. We are a peacekeeper because of tariffs. Not only do we make hundreds of billions of dollars, but we're a peacekeeper because of tariffs," Trump added.

This is not the first time Trump has made such claims. Last month, during a private dinner with Republican lawmakers, he mentioned, "We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on… These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other. You know, it seems like a new form of warfare." He also noted that several aircraft were shot down during the conflict.

However, India has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was achieved through direct discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations of both nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized in Parliament that no foreign leader requested India to halt its military operations.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply following a deadly terror attack on April 22 in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals due to an assault by Pakistan-backed militants. In retaliation, India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine major terror hubs within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan attempted to respond with drone and missile strikes, but Indian air defence systems successfully intercepted all threats. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted precision strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, including key locations like Nur Khan and Rahim Yar Khan. While there were no reported casualties or damage in India, the Indian military provided visual evidence of the impact of its cross-border operations. The IAF's robust air defence capabilities were crucial in protecting Indian airspace during this period, neutralizing multiple UAV and drone threats.