Trump Claims ’11 Jets Shot Down’ in 2025 India-Pakistan Clash, Praises Sharif and Munir as Key to Preventing Wider War

US President Donald Trump lavished praise on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir during the first meeting of his newly established “Board of Peace” in Washington on Thursday, calling the prime minister a man he likes “a lot” and describing the army chief as a “great general,” “great field marshal,” “tough man,” and “serious fighter.”

Speaking at the gathering hosted at the United States Institute of Peace, Trump highlighted his personal admiration for both leaders, tying it to what he described as Pakistan’s constructive role in regional stability and past de-escalation efforts. He repeatedly thanked Sharif for attending and emphasized strengthened ties forged during challenging times, including a referenced 2025 conflict with India.

“I like this man,” Trump said of Sharif, adding in remarks captured by Pakistani state media and international outlets, “I like Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a lot.” He extended similar compliments to Munir, noting the field marshal’s “great personality” and toughness as a “fighter.”

Trump revisited his claimed intervention in the May 2025 Pakistan-India tensions, asserting he used threats of 200% trade tariffs on both nations to force a resolution and prevent a wider war that could have cost millions of lives. He revised an earlier figure, stating that “11 jets were shot down” during the clashes, describing them as “very expensive ones”, and credited Pakistan’s leadership for helping avert catastrophe.

The comments came amid the Board of Peace’s inaugural session, an initiative Trump chairs to support Gaza’s reconstruction, security, and broader Middle East stability following a fragile truce. The forum includes representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the UAE, Indonesia, Jordan, and others, with Trump announcing a US pledge of $10 billion toward related efforts. Pakistan’s participation has sparked domestic debate over implications for its foreign policy, including any potential role in Gaza stabilization.