Trump exposes India’s silence over seven aircraft lost to Pakistan

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday revealed that India does not openly discuss the seven planes shot down by Pakistan during the May conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Trump referred to the incident again, this time speaking more openly and clearly indicating that he was talking about New Delhi. He also subtly pointed to the Indian diplomat present at the Oval Office during his remarks.

Speaking at the Oval Office, Trump praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying, “Prime Minister of Pakistan said so beautifully, you saved millions of lives. I think he’s referring to the fact that that would have been with India, nuclear war that was getting very close. Seven planes, they don’t talk about it, but seven aircraft were shot down.”

“Seven planes — they (Indians) don’t talk about it, but seven aircraft were shot down.”

~ President Trump pic.twitter.com/jxpaHzeN7V

— Fidato (@tequieremos) October 15, 2025

Trump also told the media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him there would be no further imports of Russian oil into India. This statement comes after the US had openly criticised India for purchasing oil from Moscow and suggested that such trade was fueling the war in Ukraine.

India is currently the largest importer of Russian oil after the European Union, following sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and EU in response to the attacks and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Trump added that he now intends to persuade China to follow India’s lead and halt its purchases of Russian oil. Although India has not officially commented on the matter, this could become a major point of tension between Moscow and New Delhi, given that India imports 1.62 million barrels of oil from Russia.