US President Donald Trump has now claimed that up to 10 fighter jets were shot down during the recent conflict between Pakistan and India, doubling his earlier estimate.
Speaking on Fox Business, Trump said, “I settled eight wars. Of those eight, at least six were settled because of tariffs.” He explained that he threatened tariffs to prevent bloodshed: “I said if you don’t settle this war, I’m going to charge you tariffs, because I don’t want to see people getting killed.”
Trump elaborated on the India-Pakistan clash, calling it a near-nuclear confrontation: “Like India and Pakistan—it would have been a nuclear war in my opinion. They were really going at it. Ten planes were shot down.”
He recalled that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with saving at least 10 million lives by helping to avert escalation. “Without tariffs, that would not have happened,” Trump said.
While Trump has highlighted his role, India has not acknowledged US intervention. Pakistan, however, reportedly nominated the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The May 2025 confrontation, the worst between the two countries in decades, followed a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi alleged was backed by Pakistan. Islamabad denied involvement and offered a neutral investigation.
During the clashes, Pakistan reportedly shot down several Indian jets, including three Rafale fighters, along with dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours of fighting, a US-brokered ceasefire was declared on May 10, ending the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
