US President Donald Trump has once again brought India’s Operation Sindoor into his midterm election campaign, claiming that his threat of imposing steep tariffs on India and Pakistan helped stop their military confrontation in May 2025. He also expressed disappointment over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his claimed diplomatic efforts.
Addressing an election rally in Florida on Friday, October 23, Trump said the two nuclear-armed neighbours had stopped firing after he threatened to impose tariffs of up to 250 per cent on both countries.
Trump claimed that India and Pakistan were angry over his warning but eventually stopped fighting. He also referred to aircraft losses during the conflict and asserted that he had helped prevent further escalation.
“I’ve settled eight wars. Did I get the Nobel Prize? No,” Trump said, expressing frustration over not receiving the prestigious peace award.
Operation Sindoor and India’s response
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Military action between India and Pakistan was paused on May 10, 2025, following communication between the two countries’ military officials.
India has repeatedly rejected Trump’s claims that he brokered the ceasefire, maintaining that the understanding to stop military action was reached directly between New Delhi and Islamabad, without third-party mediation.
Trump has repeatedly cited the India-Pakistan conflict while highlighting what he describes as his diplomatic achievements. His latest remarks came as he campaigned ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, once again placing Operation Sindoor and his Nobel Peace Prize grievance in the spotlight.
