Washington: Operation Sindoor has emerged as a talking point on the campaign trail for the United States midterm elections, with President Donald Trump reiterating his claim that he prevented an all-out war between India and Pakistan by threatening both nations with severe tariffs.
India initiated Operation Sindoor in May 2025, striking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to an April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in numerous casualties. New Delhi has repeatedly pushed back against Trump's assertions of brokering a ceasefire, maintaining instead that the decision to halt military hostilities was communicated and agreed upon directly between the governments of India and Pakistan.
Speaking at a political rally in Florida, Trump took personal credit for halting the escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours last year, telling supporters that both sides were furious but desisted from further firing following his ultimatum on trade.
Trump recounted telling leaders from both nations that they would be barred from trading with the United States and hit with massive 250 percent tariffs if they continued their conflict. He claimed that despite their anger, the threat effectively brought an end to the fighting.
The US president also claimed that eleven aircraft were shot down and touted his record in stopping international conflicts without assistance from the United Nations, while expressing frustration over not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his claimed diplomatic interventions.
According to the official Indian timeline of events, military actions were paused on May 10 following a direct request from Pakistan after precise Indian airstrikes hit major terrorist launchpads. India's stance remains that the cessation of hostilities was strictly a bilateral matter settled without third-party mediation.