ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that seven “brand new, beautiful” jets were shot down during a brief Pakistan-India aerial combat in May, saying his threat to halt trade with both countries helped end four-day military standoff.
The conflict, the most intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, erupted after an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan, an allegation Islamabad denied and called for credible, global probe.
The hour-long India-Pakistan duel, which took place in darkness, involved some 110 aircraft, experts estimate, making it the world’s largest air battle in decades. Pakistani officials said they downed six India jets, including French-made Rafale. India acknowledged losses but did not specify a number.
Trump, who helped broker a ceasefire between the neighbors on May 10, said the threat of halting trade was “70 percent” responsible for ending conflicts involving Pakistan and India, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Thailand and Cambodia, Serbia and Kosovo, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Rwanda and Congo.
“If you look at India and Pakistan, they were going at it, seven planes were shot down, seven brand new, beautiful planes were shot down, and they were going at it, two big nuclear powers,” Trump said at a ceremony in Japan.
“And I said to Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi, and I said to the Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif], a very nice man, a very good man. And the Field Marshal [Asim Munir] over in Pakistan, I said, ‘Look, we’re not going to do any trade if you’re going to be fighting’.”
Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which he announced on social media after Washington held talks with both sides. India, however, has disputed his claims that the truce resulted from his intervention or his threats to halt trade discussions.
Since the May ceasefire, Islamabad and Washington have expanded cooperation across multiple fronts, including counterterrorism, defense and mining and minerals.
The two sides have also deepened engagement on trade, technology and climate resilience, signaling a renewed effort to stabilize ties and promote long-term collaboration.
