India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told Donald Trump that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May was achieved through talks between the two militaries and not US mediation.
This came as the two leaders had a phone call. This was the first conversation between Trump and Modi after the pause in Operation Sindoor last month.
Indian Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri said in a press statement on the Modi-Trump phone call that Modi set the record straight that Operation Sindoor was “paused” following a request from Pakistan and not due to mediation or offer of a trade deal by the US.
Trump had said last month that the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the US, and that the hostilities ended after he urged the countries to focus on trade instead of war.
In a 35-minute phone call with Trump, Modi briefed the US President on Operation Sindoor, launched by India against terror sites in Pakistan and made it clear that countries that support terrorism must face the consequences.
During the phone call, Modi said India responded strongly to Pakistan’s attack on the intervening night of May 9-10, which led to heavy losses to Pakistan’s military infrastructure and rendered their airbases inoperable.
Modi told Trump that India’s strong response to Pakistan forced it to urge India to stop the military campaign.
“The Prime Minister told Trump clearly that in this entire chain of events, there was no discussion of an India-US trade deal and there was no reference to US mediation between India and Pakistan.”
Vikram Misri
Modi made it clear that the decision to halt military action was taken in direct talks between India and Pakistan using the existing channels and at the insistence of Pakistan.
Modi emphasised that India will not accept any mediation in its dealings with Pakistan and there is bipartisan/political unity on this issue.
Modi told Trump that he had expressed his resolve to take action against terrorism after the Pahalgam attack.
The Prime Minister told Trump that India had targeted terror sites inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan on the intervening night of May 6-7.
He made it clear that India’s action was “measured, precise and non-escalatory.”
Trump Expresses Support For India’s Fight Against Terrorism
Misri disclosed that Trump understood the issue after hearing the Prime Minister and expressed support for India’s fight against terrorism. “Modi told Trump that henceforth India will not treat terrorism as a proxy war but as an act of war, and Operation Sindoor was still continuing,” Misri said.
He added that Trump invited Modi to visit the US on his return journey from Canada. However, Modi said he could not accept the invitation due to a pre-existing schedule.
Misri said Modi and Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting, but it could not take place as the US President left early. Trump had left the meeting mid-way amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Modi invited President Trump to visit India for the next QUAD meeting, Misri said, adding that the US President accepted the invitation, and said that he was eager to visit India.
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