WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump reiterated a claim during a rally on September 17, 2024, that he personally intervened to prevent a war between India and Pakistan, a statement disputed by Indian officials and lacking self-reliant verification. Trump asserted he received calls from both Prime Ministers Narendra modi and Imran Khan, each seeking his assistance in de-escalating tensions.
Teh repeated assertion, made during a campaign event in [Location of Rally], resurfaces a narrative Trump has presented previously, typically without providing specific details or evidence. While the precise context of the alleged communication remains unclear, the claim touches upon a sensitive period in Indo-Pakistani relations – February 2019 – following a terrorist attack in Pulwama, india, and subsequent Pakistani airstrikes. The incident brought the two nuclear-armed nations to the brink of conflict, prompting international diplomatic efforts to avert escalation.
According to Trump, both leaders “were very grateful” and “said, ’Thank you, Mr. President, you have saved us from a war.'” He did not specify the nature of his intervention, only stating he had “very good conversations” with both leaders.
Indian government sources, speaking on background, have consistently downplayed Trump’s account, stating that while diplomatic communication occurred with the United States, it did not involve a direct mediation effort by the former president that averted a war. Pakistan’s government has not issued a formal statement directly confirming or denying Trump’s claims.
The timing of Trump’s renewed claim comes as he seeks to highlight his foreign policy achievements on the campaign trail. His past assertions regarding international affairs have often been characterized by a personalized narrative and a tendency to emphasize his direct role in resolving global issues. The claim regarding India and Pakistan has been previously fact-checked by multiple news organizations, which have found no corroborating evidence.
