U. S. President Donald Trump has again asserted that his administration played a decisive role in defusing escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, claiming that his trade-driven diplomacy prevented a potential nuclear conflagration. Trump notably mentioned that “five planes were shot down” and described this as his 25th time stepping in to avert such a conflict. He praised the deal as “a bigger success than I’ll ever be given credit for.”
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh firmly rejected such claims, stating that its decision to halt the military confrontation in May 2025 was based on achieving its political and strategic objectives—not due to external influence. Singh made this statement during a parliamentary address, reinforcing the government’s long-held view that ceasefire terms were the result of sovereign decision-making.
The May conflict originated after a militant attack killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir, prompting India’s Operation Sindoor—an air-and-missile retaliation across the Line of Control. Pakistan responded, triggering the most intense military exchange between the two since the early 1990s. Amid fears of broader escalation, Vice-President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and General Asim Munir respectively, urging both to consider de-escalation. A ceasefire was formalised on 10 May 2025 through direct military-to-military channels, with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister announcing the suspension of hostilities.
Trump has maintained that he leveraged trade incentives—pledging increased U. S. commerce should the fighting cease—to coax both sides into halting aggression. “We talk trade … we say we can’t trade with people shooting at each other,” he said, adding that the avoidance of war “was one of the biggest successes” of his foreign policy.
However, New Delhi has consistently contested this portrayal. Officials underscored that no trade negotiations were part of the de-escalation discussions. India’s External Affairs Ministry noted that from the launch of Operation Sindoor on 7 May to the cessation of military activity on 10 May, diplomacy occurred bilaterally, without U. S. trade pressure influencing decisions.
This dispute now unfolds amid a broader diplomatic friction in August 2025, when the U. S. imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports—first at 25 per cent, later doubled to 50 per cent—primarily targeting India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The ensuing strain has raised alarm over the future of strategic cooperation, with analysts warning that trust between the two countries is eroding.
Harmony at Dhakeshwari: Army Chief Emphasises Inclusive Bangladesh 