India-Pakistan ceasefire: Weeks after Donald Trump claimed credit for brokering a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan and linked it to a trade deal with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the US President Wednesday that at no point was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal, or any proposal for mediation by the US between India and Pakistan.
Detailing the 35-minute phone conversation between Modi and Trump, their first since Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “President Trump enquired if Prime Minister Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada. Due to prior commitments, Prime Minister Modi expressed his inability to do so. Both leaders agreed to make efforts to meet in the near future.”
Modi headed to Croatia from Canada Wednesday. The two leaders could not meet during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis because the US President had returned to Washington, exiting the Summit early.
Underlining that a discussion on ending military action took place “directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces” and had been initiated “at Pakistan’s request”, Modi said “India does not and will never accept mediation”. He also said there was “complete political consensus” in India on this issue.
“Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan’s request. Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter,” Misri said.
Hours later, Trump repeated his claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan. “Well, I stopped the war…. I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India. But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India,” he said.
Trump, who was meeting Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir over lunch at the White House, said, “This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side,” while referring to Munir.
“Modi, from the India side, and others. They (India and Pakistan) were going at it, and they are both nuclear countries. I got it stopped… I stopped the war between two major nations, major nuclear nations. I don’t think I had a story written about it,” he said, adding that the people know
Earlier, Misri, while recalling that Trump had expressed his condolences to Modi over a phone call after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and had expressed his support against terrorism, said, “Hence, Prime Minister Modi spoke in detail about Operation Sindoor with President Trump.”
According to Misri, Modi told Trump in clear terms that after April 22, India had conveyed to the whole world its determination to take action against terrorism.
“Prime Minister Modi said that on the night of May 6-7, India had only targeted the terrorist camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India’s actions were very measured, precise and non-escalatory. India had also made it clear that any act of aggression from Pakistan would be met with a stronger response,” he said.
“On the night of May 9, Vice President (JD) Vance had made a phone call to Prime Minister Modi. Vice President Vance had conveyed that Pakistan may launch a major attack on India. Prime Minister Modi had conveyed to him in clear terms that if such an action were to occur, India would respond with an even stronger response. On the night of May 9-10, India gave a strong and decisive response to Pakistan’s attack, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military. Their military air bases were rendered inoperable. Due to India’s firm action, Pakistan was compelled to request a cessation of military operations,” Misri said.
“President Trump listened carefully to the points conveyed by the Prime Minister and expressed his support towards India’s fight against terrorism,” he said.
“Prime Minister Modi also stated that India no longer views terrorism as a proxy war, but as a war itself, and that India’s Operation Sindoor is still ongoing,” he said.
The two leaders also “discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran”, he said.
“Both leaders agreed that for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, direct dialogue between the two parties is essential, and continued efforts should be made to facilitate this,” he said.
On the Indo-Pacific region, Misri said both leaders “shared their perspectives and expressed their support towards the significant role of Quad in the region”. This was an oblique reference to China’s assertive behaviour in the region.
He said Modi extended an invitation to Trump to visit India for the next Quad Summit. “President Trump accepted the invitation and said he is looking forward to visiting India,” he said.