NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: In a renewed claim, US President Donald Trump stated that “five jets were shot down” during the May conflict between India and Pakistan, reiterating his assertion that the hostilities ended due to his intervention.
Trump did not clarify whether the aircraft belonged to India, Pakistan, or both, leaving the details ambiguous.
India, however, has consistently dismissed Trump’s claims, maintaining that the military de-escalation resulted from direct communication between the armed forces of both nations, with no US mediation involved.
Speaking during a dinner for Republican senators at the White House on Friday, Trump said, “You had India and Pakistan—planes were being shot out of the air… four or five. I think five jets were actually shot down. It was getting worse and worse.”
He added, “These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other. It was escalating fast. But we got it resolved through trade. We told them, ‘You want to make a trade deal with us? Not while you’re exchanging fire and threatening nuclear action.’ Both are powerful nuclear states.”
Trump also claimed that his administration achieved more in six months than most others could in eight years. “I’m very proud of stopping a lot of wars—serious wars,” he said.
Since May 10, Trump has repeatedly stated that he helped defuse tensions between the two South Asian nuclear powers, claiming he urged them to de-escalate by linking peace to potential trade deals with the US.
India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territory in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy for the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The operation led to four days of heavy cross-border exchanges, which ceased following a mutual agreement on May 10 to halt military actions.
On Thursday, the US officially designated The Resistance Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation, stating it underscores America’s commitment to combating terrorism.
India welcomed the US move, calling it a significant step in recognizing and countering cross-border terrorism.
