U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his assertion that he personally intervened to prevent a full-scale war between India and Pakistan last year, describing the nuclear-armed neighbors as on the verge of "going at it big." In recent public statements, Trump recounted how his direct involvement de-escalated the crisis, crediting himself with saving millions of lives.

The flare-up stemmed from India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025, launched after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people. Exchanges of drones and missiles ensued over four days, with reports of aircraft losses on both sides. A ceasefire was reached on May 10, though Indian officials maintain it resulted from bilateral military channels, dismissing any external mediation.

Trump, who has shared this narrative 70 to 80 times since the event, frames it as one of eight global conflicts he's resolved. He highlighted praise from Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who allegedly credited him with averting catastrophe during a White House visit. The president even quipped about deserving multiple Nobel Peace Prizes for his peacemaking efforts.

India continues to reject the mediation claim, emphasizing direct talks between its military operations directors and Pakistan's counterparts. This echoes past crises, like the 2019 Balakot strikes, where both sides managed de-escalation independently. Trump's story, however, bolsters his image as a decisive deal-maker amid ongoing U.S. foreign policy discussions. The episode underscores persistent risks in South Asia, where advanced weaponry heightens stakes for global powers watching closely.