In a characteristic display of bold diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has once again taken centre stage by claiming credit for preventing a catastrophic war between India and Pakistan. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” in Washington, Trump asserted that it was his personal intervention—specifically a threat to impose a massive 200% tariff on both nations—that forced the nuclear-armed neighbours to pull back from the brink of all-out conflict following India’s “Operation Sindoor.”
Addressing a high-profile audience, Trump revisited the intense military standoff that erupted in May last year. According to the President, the situation had reached a fever pitch, with aerial dogfights underway and “very expensive” fighter jets being shot out of the sky. In his latest narration, Trump updated the number of aircraft lost to 11, up from his previous claims of seven or eight.
“I called them up, and I said, listen, if you fight, I am going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries,” Trump stated. He famously added, “But when it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight.”
The conflict Trump referred to stems from April 2025, following a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. In a swift and decisive response, India launched “Operation Sindoor”—a precise tri-service military strike targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The subsequent escalation led to a brief but intense face-off that many feared could spiral into a nuclear confrontation.
Trump’s claims have been met with starkly different reactions from the two involved capitals. India has consistently and categorically rejected any third-party mediation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) maintains that the ceasefire achieved on May 10, 2025, was a bilateral decision reached through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. New Delhi’s long-standing policy remains that all issues with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally without external interference.
In contrast, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was present at the Board of Peace event, has publicly lauded Trump’s role. Sharif described Trump as a “man of peace” and a “saviour of South Asia,” claiming that the US President’s timely intervention potentially saved 25 million lives.
This incident highlights Trump’s unique “tariff-centred” approach to foreign policy. By using trade access as a bargaining chip, Trump aims to position himself as a global peacemaker who prioritises economic consequences over traditional military or diplomatic manoeuvring. While his version of events remains disputed by Indian officials, his rhetoric continues to shape the narrative of US involvement in South Asian security.
Whether Trump’s tariff threat was the decisive factor or merely a footnote in a bilateral resolution remains a matter of intense debate. However, his latest comments ensure that the mystery and drama surrounding the resolution of “Operation Sindoor” will continue to be a topic of global strategic analysis.
Stay tuned to NewsNowNation.com for further updates and expert analysis on this developing story.
