During his State of the Union (SOTU) 2026 address, US President Donald Trump once again asserted that his intervention prevented a major escalation between India and Pakistan in May 2025, describing the situation as a potential nuclear confrontation.
Referring to the tensions that followed the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Trump told lawmakers that both nations were on the brink of war. He claimed that millions of lives were at risk and suggested that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could have been killed if the conflict had escalated further. However, the US President did not present evidence to support the casualty figures he cited.
Background: Operation Sindoor and Rising Tensions
The crisis erupted after militants carried out a deadly attack in Pahalgam, which India attributed to cross-border elements. In response, India conducted targeted strikes on terror infrastructure located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. The operation was later identified as Operation Sindoor.
The cross-border strikes led to heightened military preparedness on both sides, raising global concerns over escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Several international powers, including the United States, publicly called for restraint while diplomatic engagement continued behind the scenes.
While Trump has repeatedly taken credit for preventing further escalation, the Indian government has maintained that de-escalation decisions were handled bilaterally between New Delhi and Islamabad, without formal US mediation.
Trade Leverage and Tariff Warnings
In his SOTU speech, Trump emphasized that economic pressure played a crucial role in calming tensions. He stated that he warned both countries that trade negotiations would be suspended if hostilities continued. He also claimed to have threatened steep tariffs — up to 200 percent — if the situation escalated further.
According to Trump, this economic leverage contributed to preventing a larger conflict. However, neither India nor Pakistan has officially confirmed that such tariff threats were part of diplomatic exchanges during the standoff.
Trump also included the India–Pakistan episode among several global conflicts he claimed to have helped resolve, referencing other geopolitical flashpoints such as Cambodia–Thailand, Kosovo–Serbia, and Israel–Iran.
As of now, Islamabad has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks regarding the 2025 crisis or the comments concerning Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
