Trump Feared Nuclear Escalation as India Launched BrahMos Missiles at Pakistan During Operation Sindoor, Says WSJ Report

In a revelation that underscores the global tensions during India’s Operation Sindoor, a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report has claimed that former U.S. President Donald Trump feared a possible nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan when India fired BrahMos cruise missiles at Pakistani military targets in early May.

According to the report, as India launched multiple BrahMos missiles on May 7 in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, U.S. intelligence officials became increasingly anxious. They reportedly believed there was a risk that one of the missiles could be armed with a nuclear warhead if the crisis escalated further. This triggered emergency discussions at the White House, where Trump urged key officials like then-National Security Adviser Robert Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately reach out to their Indian and Pakistani counterparts to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

The report added that Pakistan’s potential nuclear retaliation was also a major source of concern for Washington, not just India’s actions. While the U.S. intelligence community evaluated the possibility of the BrahMos being modified for nuclear delivery, India strongly denied these assumptions.

India Reaffirms BrahMos is a Conventional Weapon

Officials from the Indian Embassy in Washington reiterated that India adheres strictly to its "No First Use" nuclear policy and emphasized that the BrahMos is not a nuclear-capable missile. They pointed out that the BrahMos is not under the control of India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) — the body that manages the country’s nuclear weapons — but is instead operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force for conventional tactical missions.

The BrahMos carries a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg, designed to strike high-value enemy targets like radars, bunkers, airbases, and runways. It is not meant for nuclear use, Indian officials clarified, countering fears raised in the WSJ article.

Operation Sindoor and Use of BrahMos

During Operation Sindoor, India reportedly launched air-launched and ground-launched BrahMos missiles at terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and at military infrastructure deep inside Pakistan. These strikes were part of India's response to the Pahalgam attack, targeting key assets including runways, hangars, and underground bunkers.

The operation, which showcased the BrahMos’ precision and destructive capability, significantly influenced India’s decision to ramp up its missile procurement plans.

The BrahMos Missile: Speed, Accuracy, and Impact

The BrahMos, a product of joint development between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is the world’s only supersonic cruise missile in active service. Flying at speeds up to Mach 2.8, it has a two-stage propulsion system — a solid-fuel booster followed by a liquid-fuelled ramjet engine. Its "fire-and-forget" design, low radar profile, and ability to fly as low as 10 meters during the terminal phase make it extremely difficult to intercept.

Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, the missile has been operational since the early 2000s and is deployed across all three branches of the Indian military.

Indigenous Push and BrahMos-II

Following its success, India has increased its focus on domestic production of the BrahMos missile, aligning with its ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) vision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed its performance during Operation Sindoor as a testament to India’s indigenous defence capability, including its air defence systems, drones, and missile platforms.

India is also developing the next-generation BrahMos-II, a hypersonic missile expected to reach speeds of Mach 9, powered by scramjet technology. Inspired by Russia’s Zircon missile, BrahMos-II aims to offer even greater range and velocity. However, the programme has been delayed due to past restrictions under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and ongoing engineering challenges.

India’s Clear Stand Amid Global Scrutiny

Despite the U.S. concern during Operation Sindoor, India has maintained a firm stance: its actions were within the bounds of conventional warfare, proportionate, and in self-defence. The BrahMos, though powerful, remains non-nuclear and highly precise, and its usage was a deliberate signal of India’s ability to act decisively without escalating to nuclear warfare.

A senior Indian defence official recently stated that no external pressure will affect India’s defence posture, especially as the country continues to make sovereign decisions regarding defence procurements and partnerships, including those involving Russia.

The WSJ’s revelations highlight the high-stakes global diplomacy and nuclear caution that accompanied India's bold use of conventional firepower during Operation Sindoor. While the U.S. intelligence community feared the worst, India’s calibrated and disciplined use of BrahMos missiles offered a different narrative: one of control, confidence, and capability — not nuclear brinkmanship.

For India, the distinction between conventional strike and nuclear restraint remains central to its defence doctrine. And even as the U.S. watches closely, India shows no sign of altering its strategic path.