On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified to US President Donald Trump that the decision to stop military actions between India and Pakistan in May was taken through direct talks between their armies. He made it clear that the US did not play any role in the agreement, countering Trump’s earlier claim that he had helped negotiate the ceasefire.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the matter came up during a phone call that happened at President Trump’s request. The two leaders had planned to meet at the G7 Summit in Canada, but couldn’t do so because Trump had to return to the US earlier than expected.
PM Modi Clarifies No US Role in India-Pakistan Talks
During the 35-minute phone call, Modi told Trump that “India has never accepted mediation, does not and will never do so,” according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who spoke in Hindi. Modi clearly told Trump that during the four days of military clashes between India and Pakistan from May 7 to 10, topics like the “India-US trade deal or mediation by the US between India and Pakistan” were not discussed “at no time at any level.”
PM Modi’s First Public Response to Trump’s Ceasefire Claim
On May 10, Trump was the first to say that India and Pakistan had stopped fighting. An official US Statement even called it a ceasefire arrange by the United States. Since then, Trump has said many times that he was the one who got both countries to stop fighting, and that he used the threat of ending trade with them to make it happen.
This is the first time Prime Minister Modi’s comments on the issue have been made public. Earlier, only Indian officials had denied that the US had any role in the agreement between India and Pakistan to stop the fighting. The clashes began after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to hit terrorist camps in areas controlled by Pakistan. This was in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
PM Modi and Trump Talk About Operation Sindoor
The Indian strikes on May 7 caused four days of heavy fighting, with both India and Pakistan using missiles, drones, and long-range weapons to attack each other’s military bases. India does not call the agreement to stop fighting, made by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, a ceasefire. India has also said that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.
Misri said that a meeting between Modi and Trump was planned during the G7 Summit, but it could not happen because the US President went back to America early. “Subsequently, at the request of President Trump, the two leaders spoke on the phone today,” he said.
This was the first talk between Modi and Trump since Trump called Modi to express his condolences after the Pahalgam terror attack and show support in the fight against terrorism. “Therefore, Prime Minister Modi talked to President Trump in detail about Operation Sindoor,” Misri said.
Modi told trump that after the Pahalgam attack, India “conveyed to the entire world its determination to take action against terrorism.” He said that on May 7, India targeted only terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “India’s actions were very measured, precise, and non-escalatory,” Misri said.
India also clearly said it would “respond to Pakistan’s bullet with a cannon shell.” On the night of May 9, US Vice President JD Vance called Modi and said Pakistan “could launch a major attack on India,” Misri added.
Modi told Vance “in clear words that if this happens, India will give an even bigger reply to Pakistan.” Later, when Pakistan attacked on the night of May 9-10, India gave a strong response, causing heavy damage to Pakistan’s military and making some of its airbases “inoperable.”
India Took Its Own Steps, No Mediation Needed: PM Modi
Misri said, “Due to India’s strong response, Pakistan had to request India to stop military action. Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that during this entire episode, at no time, at any level, were issues such as India-US trade deal or mediation by the US between India and Pakistan discussed.”
He also said, “The decision to halt military action was made directly between India and Pakistan, through existing channels of the two armies, and was made at the request of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has never accepted mediation, does not and will never do so. There is complete political consensus in India on this issue.”
Misri added that Trump “understood the points made in detail” by Modi and showed his support for India’s fight against terrorism. Modi also said India “now sees terrorism as a war and not a proxy war, and India’s Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.”
PM Modi and Trump Plan Future Meeting, Talk Global Peace
Misri said that Trump asked Modi if he could stop in the US on his way back from Canada, but Modi said he couldn’t because of ‘pre-scheduled engagements.’ After Canada, Modi went to Croatia as part of his three-country tour.
Misri said that both leaders agreed to try and meet sometime soon. They also spoke about the conflict between Israel and Iran, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Misri said they both agreed that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine are important for “peace as soon as possible” and that efforts should continue for this.
Trump and Modi also talked about the Indo-Pacific region and “expressed support for the important role” of the Quad there. Modi invited Trump to visit India for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit, and Trump “accepted the invitation and said that he is looking forward to visiting India,” Misri said.
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