Washington D.C: In his State of the Union Address delivered on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, US President Donald Trump claimed his administration successfully averted a nuclear war between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks in 2025. Trump made the bold assertion that he has ended eight wars during his first ten months in office, specifically citing his intervention in the South Asian conflict as a primary achievement.
The President shared a conversation he allegedly had with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating that Sharif told him nearly 35 million people would have died if the United States had not intervened. “Pakistan and India would have had a nuclear war. 35 million people said the Prime Minister of Pakistan would have died if it were not for my involvement,” Trump told the joint session of Congress.
India Disputed US Role in Ceasefire
Despite the President’s claims, India has formally denied any third-party involvement in the cessation of hostilities. New Delhi maintains that the request to end military operations originated directly from the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) in Pakistan. The conflict escalated significantly following Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7, 2025, as a punitive response to a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Operation Sindoor was a highly coordinated multi-domain campaign involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Indian Air Force (IAF) notably conducted precision strikes on deep-territory targets, including the Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan Air Bases. While Pakistan attempted retaliatory drone and UCAV strikes on Indian infrastructure, these were reportedly neutralized by India’s multi-layered air defense systems.
Broader Foreign Policy Assertions
Beyond the India-Pakistan conflict, President Trump addressed several other global flashpoints during his speech. He claimed his administration is working to end the “slaughter” between Russia and Ukraine, asserting the war would never have occurred under his presidency. On the subject of Iran, Trump expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution but issued a firm warning regarding their missile development and nuclear ambitions. “I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror… to have a nuclear weapon,” he stated.
