“Donald Trump Claims ‘Eight Planes Shot Down’ in May Pakistan-India Conflict, Re-asserts Role as Mediator”
News Article:
In a recent address at the American Business Forum in Miami, U.S. President Donald Trump once again weighed into the May 2025 military escalation between Pakistan and India, claiming that eight aircraft were “essentially” shot down during the clash — and suggesting his trade-threat intervention helped bring about a ceasefire.Trump said he had been negotiating trade deals with both India and Pakistan when he found out the two nuclear-armed neighbours were “going to war”. He asserted:
“Seven planes were shot down, and the eighth was badly wounded… But eight planes were shot down essentially.”
He added that he had told both countries:
“If you guys are going to fight … I’m not going to make any trade deals with you unless you agree to peace.”
According to Trump, within a day of his “intervention”, the two countries had reached a ceasefire and resumed trade:
“I said, ‘Thank you — let’s trade’.”
Responses & context:
Both India and Pakistan maintain different accounts of the May conflict. India insists the cease-fire was achieved through bilateral military channels and denies any significant U.S. mediation role.Some reports place the number of aircraft lost at lower levels: a Pakistani claim of six Indian jets downed, India acknowledging fewer losses.
Why this matters:
The renewed claim by Trump puts the spotlight on the May conflict between Pakistan and India, reminding the world of how volatile the region remains.
By citing trade threats and his role as a mediator, Trump frames himself as a global peace-broker — a narrative that may have both domestic and international implications.The discrepancies in reported losses and mediation underscore the difficulties in verifying facts in high-tension conflicts between nuclear-armed neighbours.
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What to watch:
Whether either India or Pakistan respond publicly to this latest claim, especially regarding the aircraft count and U.S. intervention.
How the narrative affects regional diplomacy and the ongoing military and strategic balance between the two countries.
