Trump says 200% tariff threat ended Indo-Pak crisis

Trump claims tariff warning swiftly de-escalated India-Pakistan tensions

ISLAMABAD — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed he threatened to impose a 200% tariff to end an India-Pakistan conflict “in a day,” according to a report by U.S.-based outlet indica News. The remarks, made in recent comments highlighted by the publication, revive debate in South Asia over Washington’s role in defusing past crises between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

What Trump said

Indica News reported that Trump asserted a “200% tariff” threat brought a rapid halt to hostilities between India and Pakistan, claiming the situation was resolved within 24 hours. The outlet did not specify the precise episode he was referencing. Trump has previously taken public credit for helping calm tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad while he was in office.

The publication quoted the former president as saying the tariff threat ended the conflict “in a day,” framing the move as decisive economic pressure aimed at preventing escalation. No immediate official reactions were reported.

Background: 2019 crisis and swift de-escalation

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked dramatically in February 2019 after a suicide bombing in Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir, killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. India responded on 26 February 2019 with airstrikes near Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The following day, the two air forces engaged in aerial clashes, and an Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured after his MiG-21 was shot down. Pakistan released him on 1 March as a “peace gesture,” easing the crisis within days.

At the time, the United States, along with other international partners, engaged both sides to urge restraint. Then–U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly noted that Washington had worked with New Delhi and Islamabad to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation.

Tariffs and trade context

In the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama attack, India announced it was raising customs duties on all Pakistani imports to 200%, effectively choking bilateral trade across the land border. New Delhi also moved to withdraw Pakistan’s Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trading status. Those steps were unilateral measures taken by India in February 2019 aimed at exerting economic pressure on Islamabad.

Trump’s latest claim, as reported by indica News, centers on a separate alleged tariff threat he says he made to end an India-Pakistan confrontation. The report did not detail whether the purported 200% tariff threat was directed at India, Pakistan, or both, nor did it specify the timing of the warning.

Prior claims of U.S. mediation

During his tenure, Trump publicly offered to mediate on Kashmir and said he had spoken to leaders in New Delhi and Islamabad during periods of heightened tension. While India consistently maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Pakistan, U.S. officials have long played behind-the-scenes roles encouraging de-escalation during crises, including in 2019.

Trump’s assertion that economic leverage could end a stand-off quickly aligns with his broader record of using tariff threats as diplomatic tools. However, indica News did not cite corroborating documents or statements from other officials regarding the specific 200% tariff threat he referenced.

What’s next

Trump’s remarks are likely to prompt renewed scrutiny from policymakers and analysts in South Asia about how the 2019 crisis was managed and the extent of U.S. involvement. Neither New Delhi nor Islamabad had issued immediate public responses to the claim as of publication. With cross-border tensions subject to periodic flare-ups and ongoing concerns over ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, any suggestion of external pressure shaping outcomes remains a sensitive topic for both capitals.

For Pakistan, the statement adds a fresh layer to the historical record of the 2019 stand-off, when rapid international diplomacy coincided with a swift de-escalation following the Balakot strikes and Pakistan’s release of the captured Indian pilot. Whether Trump’s claimed tariff warning played a role remains unverified, but the comments underscore the enduring global attention on crisis management between India and Pakistan.