U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that his diplomacy helped end a conflict between India and Pakistan, this time revising his earlier number of downed aircraft from seven to eight. The remarks were made on November 6 at the America Business Forum in Miami, where Trump said the two nuclear-armed neighbours had been at war and that he intervened by leveraging trade ties.
According to the NDTV report, Trump stated: “I heard they were going to war. Seven planes were shot down, and the eighth was badly wounded. Eight planes were shot down essentially.”
The Indian government has reiterated that it did not accept U.S. mediation in its bilateral dealings with Pakistan. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have maintained that any cease-fire or diplomatic outcome was reached through direct talks between the countries themselves.
Trump’s claim draws attention both to the sensitive nature of India-Pakistan relations and the broader role of U.S. diplomacy in the region. His revision of the number of aircraft downed underlines the contested credibility of the narrative he presents. The claim remains unverified in terms of independent defence-sector confirmations or official military disclosures.
As global watchers parse the implications, India has reiterated a long-standing policy: external mediation in its ties with Pakistan must have Delhi’s consent. Washington’s public narrative – often echoing Trump’s version – may carry diplomatic weight, but in formal terms, India continues to state it will chart its strategic path autonomously.
