Fact Check: Have India and Pakistan Been Fighting for Centuries, as Trump Claims?

Trump’s claim that India and Pakistan “have been fighting for many, many centuries” is historically inaccurate.

Trump’s Statement

According to available sources, Trump indeed made a similar statement in response to tensions between India and Pakistan in May 2025, specifically in the context of Indian strikes on targets in Pakistan as part of Operation Sindoor. The quote was approximately: “It’s a shame. We just heard about it… They’ve been fighting for a long time. They’ve been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you think about it.” (Source – Reuters)

Fact-Check of the Historical Claim

Trump’s claim that India and Pakistan “have been fighting for many, many centuries” is historically inaccurate. Here are the key points:

• Formation of Pakistan and India: Pakistan emerged as a separate state only in 1947, following the partition of British India into two independent nations—predominantly Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. Thus, the conflict between these two countries could not have lasted “centuries” since Pakistan did not exist before 1947.
• Kashmir Conflict: The primary source of tension between India and Pakistan is the dispute over Kashmir, which began in 1947 when both nations gained independence. Since then, they have fought four wars (1947–48, 1965, 1971 (the Indian intervention in East Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh) and 1999 and engaged in several smaller skirmishes, mostly over Kashmir. This conflict has lasted about 78 years, far short of “many centuries.”
• Pre-Colonial History: Trump’s statement could be misinterpreted as referring to broader historical conflicts between Hindu and Muslim communities on the Indian subcontinent, dating back to the medieval period (e.g., invasions by Muslim dynasties from the 12th century). However, these conflicts were not between “India and Pakistan” as states but between various kingdoms and empires on the subcontinent, which do not align with modern national boundaries. Trump’s statement thus oversimplifies and distorts the historical context.

Additional Inaccuracies in Trump’s Statements

In another statement from April 2025, Trump claimed that “India and Pakistan have been fighting over Kashmir for a thousand years, maybe longer” and that “there’s been tension on the border for 1500 years.” These claims are also inaccurate, as they ignore the fact that Pakistan was established in 1947 and conflate modern geopolitical conflict with general historical religious or cultural tensions.

Comment on Trump’s Stance

Trump’s remark, “It’s a shame,” is a subjective expression that cannot be fact-checked, as it reflects his personal opinion. However, his comment expressing hope that the conflict “ends quickly” and his offer to assist with mediation suggest a diplomatic tone, although sources indicate that Trump showed little enthusiasm for deeper U.S. involvement in the crisis.

Conclusion

• Accuracy of the Statement: Trump’s claim that India and Pakistan “have been fighting for many, many centuries” is inaccurate. The conflict between these two states began in 1947 after the partition of British India, lasting just under 80 years, not centuries. His mention of “centuries” likely oversimplifies or incorrectly ties the modern conflict to deeper historical tensions on the subcontinent.
• Historical Context: While there were conflicts between various religious and political groups on the Indian subcontinent before 1947, these cannot be directly equated to the current state-level conflict between India and Pakistan.
• Additional Notes: Trump’s rhetoric contains inaccuracies, but his overall stance—expressing regret and hope for de-escalation—is consistent with diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, as reported by sources.