Donald Trump claims ‘five jets were shot down’ during India-Pakistan military conflict in May

By Admin

19 Jul, 2025

In a recent statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump once again took credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan during their intense military standoff in May. Speaking at a White House dinner with Republican lawmakers, Trump claimed, without providing any evidence, that "five jets were shot down" during the conflict. The assertion, which lacks official confirmation from either India or Pakistan, has stirred controversy and drawn criticism for its speculative nature.

Trump's Claim of Aircraft Losses

“We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually,” Trump said. However, he did not specify whether the losses were on the Indian or Pakistani side, and there has been no verified record of such aircraft downings during the military exchanges in May.

This is not the first time Trump has inserted himself into the India-Pakistan conflict narrative. He has repeatedly taken credit for de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations   a claim that has been met with strong opposition from Indian officials.

Ceasefire Credit Disputed by India

Trump had publicly announced a ceasefire on May 10, asserting that it was a direct result of U.S. diplomacy and threats to withdraw trade deals. According to him, the prospect of a trade agreement was used as leverage to push both sides towards peace.

"But India and Pakistan were going at it, and they were back and forth, and it was getting bigger and bigger, and we got it solved through trade," Trump said. “We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons, both very powerful nuclear states.”

India, however, has categorically rejected this version of events. New Delhi maintains that the ceasefire was a result of direct bilateral communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. Officials from the Indian government have reiterated that issues between India and Pakistan must be resolved without third-party involvement.

Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam Retaliation

The escalation in May was triggered by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. This led to four days of high-tension military action, including drone attacks, missile strikes, and long-range artillery exchanges. Both nations engaged in aggressive posturing, raising global fears of a full-scale war between two nuclear powers.

India eventually ceased fire after the DGMOs from both sides agreed to de-escalate during a phone call on May 10. According to Indian officials, the decision to de-escalate was a mutual understanding reached without external pressure or mediation.

Broader Context: Trump’s Foreign Policy Boasts

During the same speech, Trump also referenced the recent Israel-Iran conflict and suggested that his administration played a key role in stopping Iran’s nuclear capability. These sweeping claims reflect a pattern in Trump's rhetoric   framing himself as a global peacemaker despite contested evidence.

Conclusion

Trump’s statement about five jets being downed during the India-Pakistan conflict in May adds to his controversial legacy of unverified foreign policy claims. While he credits his administration’s diplomacy and trade leverage for stopping a near-war, India remains firm that the ceasefire was a result of direct military-to-military communication. As the facts stand, no official records from either side confirm the downing of five aircraft, leaving Trump's claim unsubstantiated.