In yet another reiteration of his assertions that he had averted a possible nuclear war in South Asia, US President Donald Trump brought up the India-Pakistan issue once more, this time citing higher numbers than before.
During an August 26 bilateral meeting with the president of South Korea in Washington, Trump said that fighting between India and Pakistan had progressed to a more advanced level and that seven fighter jets had already been shot down.
Compared to his earlier claims last month, when he said that five jets had been lost during the conflict before the two nuclear-armed neighbours withdrew from the edge, this was a rise.
“Raging” is how Trump described the situation, which had all the makings of a nuclear standoff.
He insisted that his action, which involved threatening both nations with harsh trade measures, was responsible for defusing a disastrous crisis by forcing Islamabad and New Delhi to cease their hostilities within a 24-hour period.
According to Trump’s narrative, his use of economic power and brinkmanship diplomacy was crucial in preventing what he called the “next level,” which was a possible nuclear exchange between two of the most highly armed adversaries in the world.
The US president has portrayed himself as a crucial mediator in the violent South Asian war on numerous occasions, emphasising his involvement in mediating tensions that led to Operation Sindoor, which was largely regarded as one of the worst instances of the Indo-Pak conflicts.
His most recent comments came as Indian military officials recently confirmed the extent of the operation’s success for India’s armed forces. In his keynote speech at the 16th Air Chief Marshal Memorial Lecture on August 10, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh provided hitherto unheard-of insight into India’s military operations during Operation Sindoor, which was initiated earlier this year. The Indian Air Force admitted for the first time that it had severely damaged Pakistan’s military hardware.
In addition to the destruction of a large surveillance platform, identified as either an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) or an AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, from an exceptionally long range of 300 kilometers—the longest recorded surface-to-air kill documented by the IAF—Singh confirmed that Indian forces were responsible for at least five Pakistani fighter aircraft.
Successful attacks against vital Pakistani command and control hubs, such as the Murid and Chaklala bases, as well as the destruction of six radar installations and two key surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW) systems in Lahore and Okara, followed this impressive accomplishment.
Singh went into further detail about the scope of India’s preemptive measures, including attacks on important hangars including the Jacobabad complex that houses F-16 jets, the Bholari air base, and the Sukkur UAV facility. According to intelligence, the bombed Jacobabad hangar included multiple F-16s undergoing maintenance as well as one AEW&C aircraft.
These disclosures were the first time New Delhi formally revealed the magnitude of Pakistan’s wartime losses, bringing clarity to what had previously been the focus of conjecture, contradictory media reports, and global narratives—including Trump’s own erratic numbers.
Singh attributed the operation’s success to both technical skill and careful preparation, as well as significant political and strategic support.
The “very clear political will” displayed by India’s leadership, which gave the military complete operational authority to choose its rules of engagement, escalation thresholds, and targets, was one of the defining characteristics, according to the IAF Chief.
One important element that was emphasised was the existence of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), which ensures smooth coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Similarly, the success of the campaign was further strengthened by the National Security Advisor’s (NSA) active participation in coordinating agencies and integrating intelligence.
Following the horrific Pahalgam terror incident on April 22, which killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, Operation Sindoor came into being. The operation to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir was started by India on May 7.
Over 100 terrorists were eliminated, and major militant infrastructure, like as camps and supply lines, was demolished. The military balance was tipped when Pakistan’s effort to react with air power was met with fierce opposition, which led to devastating losses to its air power capabilities and air defence facilities.
India was able to sustain its escalation supremacy without degenerating into an unmanageable conflict thanks to the three Indian services’ unified preparation.
Trump continues to emphasise that his role was crucial in keeping the crisis from reaching the nuclear threshold, despite the fact that the Indian operation was successful and supported by a clear military and political strategy. He reiterated his claim that his “no trade” threat had forced both countries to suspend hostilities, portraying his diplomacy as having averted a world war.
But Trump’s statements—particularly his erratic claims about the number of planes shot down—differ with the exact statistics that the IAF has made public.
Trump’s claim of seven total losses may be a combination of true events and his own political embellishment, even though Indian authorities have verified that at least five fighter jets and one huge spy aircraft were destroyed.
Trump’s remarks, however, highlight how attentively the US watched the war and how carefully Washington considered the dangers of escalation between Islamabad and New Delhi.
His frequent allusions to his interventions reveal a persistent effort to enhance his reputation as a foreign policy leader, portraying himself as a leader whose tenacious negotiating stopped wars not just in Asia but also around the world.
However, the discrepancy between Trump’s political narrative and the real operational record of Operation Sindoor is becoming more apparent as India now makes some information publicly available.
