WASHINGTON(Khyber Point) Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that eight fighter jets were shot down during an armed confrontation between Pakistan and India, adding that his diplomatic intervention helped prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale war.
Speaking at a business forum on Wednesday, Trump recounted what he described as one of the most “tense and dangerous” moments in South Asia during his presidency. The former president said he was about to sign a trade agreement when he was informed that “seven or eight aircraft had just been shot down” amid rising hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“I stopped everything,” Trump told the audience. “I had an agreement in my hand, but I didn’t want to proceed while two major countries were heading toward war. I put pressure on both sides — and that pressure worked. They stepped back from the brink and chose peace.”
Although Trump did not specify the exact timeline or provide details about the alleged incident, his remarks appeared to refer to the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis, when Pakistan and India engaged in aerial skirmishes following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. At that time, both nations claimed to have downed each other’s aircraft, though independent verification was limited.
Trump’s latest remarks have reignited debate over Washington’s actual role in defusing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. During his presidency, Trump often presented himself as a mediator willing to help resolve the Kashmir dispute — an offer India repeatedly rejected, insisting that all issues with Pakistan were bilateral.
Following the new comments, Indian officials once again dismissed the claim, saying that no third party had any role in managing the situation. “There was no mediation or external intervention,” a senior Indian diplomat was quoted as saying. “India’s policy on bilateral issues remains unchanged.”
In contrast, analysts in Pakistan have suggested that Washington may indeed have exerted backchannel pressure to prevent further escalation in 2019, given the potential regional and global implications of a war between two nuclear states.
While Trump’s statement lacks official corroboration, it reflects his continuing effort to highlight his diplomatic achievements and assert his influence on global affairs, even after leaving the White House.
