Washington: US President Donald Trump once again asserted that he helped avert a nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, describing it as one of the major achievements of the first year of his second term in office. Speaking during an extended White House press briefing on Tuesday, Trump said tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours had reached a dangerous point before his intervention.
“In my opinion, they were on the brink. It could have gone nuclear,” Trump told reporters, adding that his actions helped prevent a conflict that might have claimed millions of lives. He made the remarks while reviewing what he described as key foreign policy successes during his first year back in the Oval Office.
The president claimed that clashes between India and Pakistan had intensified significantly, alleging that multiple aircraft were shot down and hostilities were spiralling. “Pakistan and India were really going at it,” he said, reiterating his belief that the situation posed an existential risk for the region.
Trump also recalled a visit by Pakistan’s prime minister to Washington last year, saying the leader credited him with saving vast numbers of lives. According to Trump, the visiting leader told him that his efforts had prevented catastrophic loss of life, given both countries’ nuclear capabilities.
Later in the 105-minute briefing, Trump returned to the topic while responding to a question about his repeated references to the Nobel Peace Prize. He argued that his diplomatic interventions had prevented mass casualties across multiple conflict zones. “If you look at India and Pakistan alone, that could have meant 10, 15, even 20 million people,” he said. “So to me, saving lives is what matters most.”
The White House, meanwhile, released a detailed statement marking one year since Trump’s return to office on January 20, 2025. Titled ‘365 Wins in 365 Days’, the document highlighted what it described as major domestic and international accomplishments, including economic measures, crime reduction, energy production, and diplomatic breakthroughs. Among the foreign policy achievements listed was the claim that the administration had “brokered peace between India and Pakistan.”
Trump has repeatedly credited himself with halting the India-Pakistan conflict since announcing in May last year that the two countries had agreed to a ceasefire following talks mediated by Washington. Indian authorities, however, have consistently rejected claims of third-party involvement, maintaining that bilateral mechanisms led to de-escalation.
During the briefing, Trump also renewed his argument that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for what he said were efforts to resolve eight major conflicts worldwide. He criticised Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, suggesting it exerted undue influence over the selection process and had unfairly overlooked his role in ending wars.
Despite the repeated assertions, Trump said he was focused on continuing diplomatic efforts, including attempts to bring an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. “I didn’t do it for prizes,” he said. “I did it because saving lives is the right thing to do.”
