Trump reiterates claim for mediating on India-Pakistan ceasefire, 11 jets shot down

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump stepped forward again claiming that he mediated to stop a major military move between India and Pakistan last year. Speaking at his Board of Peace event, Trump said he restored peace by threatening to impose severe trade sanctions on both countries.

‘I threatened to put 200 percent tariffs on both countries if they didn’t stop fighting. When it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When they saw that there would be a huge economic loss, they agreed to peace,’ explained Trump. Trump was referring to the developments that followed Operation Sindoor, which India launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

Trump also claimed that 11 fighter jets were shot down during the conflict. ‘11 very expensive jets were shot down in the air battle. I intervened at a point when the situation was out of control. I know Prime Minister Narendra Modi very well personally. When I called him and the Pakistani ruler and said that I would end trade relations, they backed down,’ added Trump.

Trump also claimed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had publicly praised him. He said that Shehbaz Sharif had told his chief of staff that 25 million (25 million) lives had been saved due to Trump's intervention. However, India completely rejected Trump's claims. The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that there has been no third-party intervention in the issues between India and Pakistan.

India's stand is that the tension was eased through talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. Trump has claimed that he had mediated peace between India and Pakistan on several occasions in the past.