In a significant diplomatic exchange, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a detailed telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump today, firmly asserting that the United States played no mediatory role in the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. The clarification comes amidst repeated claims by President Trump of having brokered a “ceasefire” between the two South Asian nuclear powers.
During the 35-minute call, which was initiated at President Trump’s request following a missed opportunity to meet at the G7 Summit, PM Modi meticulously briefed the US President on “Operation Sindoor” – India’s military response to the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing following the call, underscored Prime Minister Modi’s clear message: “Prime Minister Modi told President Trump clearly that during this entire series of incidents, never were talks held at any level on India-America trade deal or mediation between India and Pakistan by America. The talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries, and it was done at Pakistan’s request.”
This definitive statement from New Delhi directly counters President Trump’s assertions, who had publicly claimed to have used trade as a leverage point to facilitate the truce. India has consistently maintained its long-standing position that any issues with Pakistan, particularly concerning Jammu and Kashmir, are strictly bilateral and do not warrant third-party mediation. Misri reiterated, “Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on this issue.”
India’s military actions, which commenced on May 7th in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, were described by PM Modi as “measured, precise, and non-escalatory,” specifically targeting terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The subsequent cessation of military action, according to India, was a direct consequence of Pakistan’s appeal through established military channels.
The call also touched upon broader international developments, including the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, with both leaders agreeing on the importance of direct dialogue for peace in the latter. PM Modi also extended an invitation to President Trump for the next QUAD summit in India, an invitation which President Trump reportedly accepted with enthusiasm.
While President Trump had previously stated in May, “If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India. We settled that whole, and I think I settled it through trade,” India’s consistent stance has been that “Operation Sindoor” is merely suspended, and Pakistan remains under close watch. This phone call served to unequivocally set the record straight on the dynamics of the recent India-Pakistan truce, emphasizing India’s sovereign right to address its security concerns without external intervention.