US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that he played a decisive role in stopping a military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, but New Delhi has repeatedly rejected any third-party mediation. Speaking at his Board of Peace event in Washington, Trump reiterated that his pressure and diplomatic tactics helped end hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours, including a claim that as many as “11 jets were shot down” during the confrontation, a statement strongly denied by India.
Trump’s Latest Claims at the Board of Peace Event
At the event, Trump returned to familiar claims about his role in ending the India-Pakistan standoff. He said, “When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight… 11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets…”
The president also claimed he threatened both countries with punitive trade action if they did not halt fighting. “…I called them, and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up… And all of a sudden, we worked out a deal. I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries,” he said.
#WATCH | At the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump says, “…He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got… pic.twitter.com/pm5eT7xjz3
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
Trump’s remarks additionally suggested that he had spoken with Narendra Modi during the crisis, saying, “I spoke to Prime Minister Modi. He’s excited. He’s watching us right now.”
India Denies Any US Role in Ceasefire
New Delhi has consistently countered the US president’s narrative on mediation. Indian officials have made clear that the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities were the result of direct military communications and bilateral talks, not third-party intervention. In Parliament, the government stated that “the ceasefire understanding was arrived at directly between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also repeatedly dismissed claims of US mediation, saying India does not accept outside involvement in its bilateral disputes with Pakistan. “On the issue of mediating (India-Pak conflict), since the 1970s … we do not accept mediation in our relations with Pakistan,” Jaishankar said at a forum last year.
What Happened During the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict?
The military tensions between India and Pakistan erupted in May 2025 following a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based groups. India responded with targeted operations, leading to several days of cross-border artillery and aerial exchanges. The conflict brought both sides close to a broader escalation before an understanding to halt military action was reached.
Trump has referenced this period often, varying his figures for aircraft losses, from five jets early on to his latest claim of 11, and crediting his own actions with defusing the situation.
Diplomacy or Different Narratives?
Analysts say the differing accounts reflect broader diplomatic narratives. Trump’s remarks are seen by some as part of his effort to highlight global peace initiatives ahead of domestic political contests, while India’s position underscores its traditional reluctance to allow third-party arbitration in bilateral disputes with Pakistan.
Even though Trump repeats his involvement claims often, reportedly more than 80 times, New Delhi remains firm that the crisis de-escalated through direct talks between the two militaries, without any mediation by the United States.
