US President says 35 million lives in Pakistan were at risk
February 25, 2026: US President Donald Trump made a dramatic claim during his 2026 State of the Union address, asserting that his intervention prevented a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Addressing a joint session of Congress, Trump said that without his involvement, the Pakistani prime minister and up to 35 million people in Pakistan could have died. He also alleged that an Indian military plan referred to as “Operation Sindoor” might have triggered catastrophic casualties, though he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
Trump portrayed his role as decisive in defusing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, adding that he had ended multiple conflicts within the first 10 months of his term. He reiterated his earlier assertion that the May 2025 ceasefire between India and Pakistan followed US-mediated talks, and claimed he had warned both sides of steep tariffs if hostilities continued. The president also said his administration is now working to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
India, however, has consistently rejected claims of third-party mediation. New Delhi has maintained that the cessation of hostilities in May 2025 was achieved through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. Indian officials have reiterated that no external intervention played a role in the understanding reached at the time.