US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that he prevented a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan during a military confrontation last year. In a recent interview with Fox Business on February 10, 2026, Trump asserted that the conflict could have escalated catastrophically without his intervention, stating, "It would have been a nuclear war, in my opinion." He described the situation as intense, noting that "they were really going at it" and that "10 planes were shot down" during the four-day clash.
Trump credited his administration's use of economic leverage, particularly threats of tariffs, for de-escalating the tensions. He claimed that by warning both nations of trade penalties, he compelled them to halt hostilities quickly. The president has repeatedly highlighted this episode as one of several conflicts he has "settled," estimating he resolved eight wars in his first year of his second term, with tariffs playing a key role in at least six cases. He further alleged that Pakistan's Prime Minister expressed gratitude, reportedly telling him that his actions "saved at least 10 million lives" by averting escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The remarks refer to events in May 2025, following India's Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory strike targeting alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after a deadly attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The brief but intense standoff involved airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery exchanges, leading to a ceasefire announced by Trump on social media as a "full and immediate" agreement after alleged US-mediated talks. Trump has made similar claims more than 80 times since May 10, 2025, often framing his role as decisive in preventing broader catastrophe.
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India has consistently rejected assertions of third-party mediation, maintaining that the de-escalation was achieved bilaterally through direct communication between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. New Delhi has emphasized that decisions on ceasefire and conflict resolution remained sovereign matters without external involvement. Pakistan's public response to Trump's specific claims has been limited in recent reports, though some accounts note rare acknowledgments or rebukes in diplomatic contexts.
Trump's repeated emphasis on this incident underscores his broader narrative of using economic tools like tariffs as instruments of foreign policy to resolve global disputes swiftly. While the claims continue to draw attention and debate internationally, they highlight ongoing sensitivities around the India-Pakistan rivalry and differing perspectives on the role of external actors in South Asian security dynamics. The president's comments come amid his administration's focus on trade negotiations and global influence.
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