US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that he played a decisive role in preventing a major escalation between India and Pakistan, including what he described as a potential “nuclear conflict.” In a fresh and dramatic claim, Trump said that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told him that as many as 35 million people could have died during India’s Operation Sindoor had he not stepped in.
Speaking during his first State of the Union address of his second term, Trump highlighted what he called his diplomatic successes, claiming he had ended eight conflicts within his first ten months back in the Oval Office. Among those, he included tensions between India and Pakistan.
“I ended eight conflicts in my first ten months. A nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan would have occurred. The Pakistani prime minister said that if I hadn’t been involved, 35 million people would have perished,” Trump stated while addressing lawmakers.
Trump’s Broader Claims on Global Conflicts
During his address, Trump listed multiple international disputes that he claimed to have resolved or de-escalated. These included:
- Israel and Hamas
- Israel and Iran
- Egypt and Ethiopia
- India and Pakistan
- Serbia and Kosovo
- Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Cambodia and Thailand
However, his remarks about India and Pakistan have continued to draw attention, particularly because New Delhi has consistently rejected claims of US mediation in the four-day military escalation.
India Rejects Mediation Claims
India has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s earlier assertions that Washington helped mediate the de-escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar previously responded with a pointed remark, saying the United States “was in the United States,” implying that the resolution was handled bilaterally without third-party involvement.
According to India’s official position, the ceasefire understanding was reached after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart via the established military hotline. As described by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Pakistan requested a halt to offensive operations, leading to the de-escalation.
What Was Operation Sindoor?
The backdrop to the renewed war-of-words is Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 last year following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The Indian government stated that the operation targeted terror infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The operation significantly heightened tensions between the two countries, both of which possess nuclear weapons, raising international concerns about potential escalation.
| Key Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pahalgam Terror Attack | April 22 | 26 tourists killed in a major terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir |
| Operation Sindoor Launched | May 7 | India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK |
| Ceasefire Understanding | Following Days | DGMO-level communication led to halt in hostilities |
Pakistan’s Position and Nobel Nomination
Interestingly, Pakistan’s reaction to Trump’s latest remarks has been marked by frustration. While Islamabad had previously nominated Trump for the nobel peace prize last year, crediting him for his “diplomatic intervention” in helping end the crisis, the renewed emphasis on his personal role has sparked mixed responses.
Trump’s statement that Sharif warned of 35 million potential deaths has added a dramatic layer to the narrative. However, no independent verification of such a figure has been made public.
Diplomacy, Politics, and Perception
The renewed claim comes at a politically significant moment in the United States, as Trump seeks to underscore his foreign policy achievements during his second term. By framing the India-Pakistan standoff as a nuclear crisis narrowly averted, he positioned himself as a global peacemaker.
Meanwhile, India continues to maintain that the resolution was achieved through direct military communication channels and that no third-party mediation was involved. The differing narratives highlight the complex intersection of diplomacy, domestic politics, and international perception.
As tensions between India and Pakistan remain sensitive, Trump’s remarks have once again brought global attention to Operation Sindoor and the fragile balance of peace in South Asia.
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