'Seven Brand New Planes’: Trump Says He Prevented Full-Scale India-Pakistan War

United States President Donald Trump stated that seven aircraft were shot down during the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation, without identifying the operators, while reiterating his administration’s role in securing a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations. Addressing business leaders at a reception in Tokyo on Tuesday, Trump described the incident: “Seven planes were shot down, seven brand new, beautiful planes were shot down, and they were going at it... two big nuclear powers.” He emphasized the use of trade leverage to halt the hostilities, recounting direct conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s leadership.

“I said to Prime Minister Modi, and I said to the Prime Minister, a very nice man, a very good man, and the Field Marshal over in Pakistan, ‘Look, we’re not going to do any trade if you’re going to be fighting,’” Trump said. When both nations argued that conflict and trade were unrelated, he responded: “I said this, it has a lot to do with the other—two nuclear powers—we get that nuclear dust all over the place. All of you are affected, right? And we said, ‘No, we’re not doing any deals if you’re going to fight.’ And within about 24 hours, that was the end of that.”

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Since May 10, 2025, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire following U.S.-mediated talks, he has repeatedly claimed credit for de-escalating the crisis. India, however, has consistently stated that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct military-to-military dialogue between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.

The conflict erupted after the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians—mostly Hindu tourists—were killed by militants from The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. India responded on May 7 with Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes on nine terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, eliminating over 100 militants with no reported civilian or military infrastructure damage.

Pakistan condemned the strikes as an act of aggression and launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks under Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, targeting Indian military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. Cross-border exchanges over four days resulted in significant casualties: at least 51 deaths in Pakistan, including 11 soldiers, and dozens in India. Both sides reported downing enemy aircraft and drones, though official tallies remain unverified and disputed.

International concern escalated rapidly, with the United Nations Security Council convening emergency sessions and multiple nations urging restraint. U.S. diplomatic engagement intensified, culminating in the May 10 ceasefire announcement. While Pakistan acknowledged American involvement, India maintained that the agreement was finalized through established bilateral military channels.

Five months later, the ceasefire remains in effect but fragile, with sporadic violations reported along the Line of Control. India has since confirmed the elimination of key TRF operatives linked to the Pahalgam attack, including mastermind Suleiman Shah, in targeted operations in July 2025. Diplomatic relations remain strained, with no resumption of formal talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

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