Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for ending the conflict between India and Pakistan, stating that he threatened both countries with 200% tariffs if they did not halt hostilities last summer. Speaking at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on February 19, 2026, Trump repeated that his intervention prevented a potential nuclear escalation and emphasized that he ended eight wars globally within the first year of his second presidential term.
During his speech, Trump singled out Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting his direct conversations with both leaders. He asked Sharif to stand and acknowledged Modi’s support, describing the situation as a major conflict. Trump praised Pakistan’s Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Staff Asim Munir, calling him a “great guy,” and recalled that multiple planes had been shot down during the hostilities.
Trump claimed that he told both countries that trade deals with the United States would be halted unless the fighting stopped. “If you fight, I’m going to put 200% tariffs on each of your countries,” he said, adding that financial concerns ultimately encouraged both sides to negotiate and reach an agreement within a few days. He described the resolution as a significant achievement and expressed pride in fostering progress in India-Pakistan relations.
Despite Trump’s repeated assertions, India has maintained that the ceasefire resulted from direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of both militaries, without third-party involvement. The conflict escalated after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
Trump’s claims have been repeated over 80 times since May 2025 and continue to attract skepticism. Critics argue that the statements lack official verification, while Trump emphasizes his image as a global peacemaker. He described the intervention as a high-stakes moment that could have escalated into serious conflict, praising the leaders involved and framing the resolution as a combination of diplomacy and financial leverage.
While the international community remains divided over the credibility of Trump’s statements, the former president’s narrative positions him as a decisive figure in global conflict resolution, particularly in the case of two nuclear-armed neighbors. The story highlights the ongoing tension between political claims and official accounts of military diplomacy in South Asia.