Trump Claims Five Jets Shot Down in India-Pakistan Clashes, Says U.S. Prevented War

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that at least five fighter jets were shot down during the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan in May, asserting that it was the United States that “stopped the war” between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Speaking at a dinner meeting with Republican lawmakers at the White House on Friday night, Trump stated:

“Planes were being shot out of the air… I think five jets were shot down, actually.”

While Trump did not specify which country’s aircraft were downed, his remarks mark the first time a third-party leader has publicly confirmed the downing of planes during the four-day conflict.

The confrontation, which took place from May 7 to May 10, followed a deadly attack on April 22 at the Pahalgam tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation Islamabad denied, calling instead for an independent investigation.

Pakistan claims it downed six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafale jets, in retaliation for Indian cross-border airstrikes. India’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan, later acknowledged that Indian aircraft were downed but did not disclose the number. “What is important is not the jets being downed, but why,” Chauhan said.

Trump said the conflict was intensifying rapidly before U.S. intervention halted it.

“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,’” he said.

Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering a truce, added:

“We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious.”

India, however, has consistently rejected claims of U.S. mediation, insisting that the ceasefire was achieved through direct diplomatic channels.

The latest flare-up once again highlighted the volatility of relations between the South Asian rivals, both of which possess nuclear arsenals and have fought multiple wars since gaining independence.