NEW DELHI– Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed in Parliament on Tuesday that he deliberately did not answer several phone calls from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on May 9, citing a high-level national security meeting amid peak tensions during Operation Sindoor.
Speaking during a charged Lok Sabha session, the Prime Minister said, “The U.S. Vice President tried calling me four to five times. But I was in a meeting regarding national security. I could not receive his calls… I called him back later.”
According to Modi, Vice President Vance was attempting to reach him out of concern over a possible escalation between India and Pakistan during the early hours of the operation. “He told me Pakistan was preparing to launch a major military action,” Modi recounted. “I made it very clear—if Pakistan dares to attack, it will pay a very heavy price. India will respond with much greater force.”
U.S. officials were reportedly in communication with both New Delhi and Islamabad in the days surrounding Operation Sindoor, a 22-minute precision offensive carried out on the night of May 6–7. The operation targeted multiple terrorist launchpads and infrastructure across Pakistan, including in Bahawalpur and Muridke.
Modi emphasized that the operation met its strategic objectives and dismissed any notion that global pressure influenced India’s decision-making. “This time, India did not stop because of fear of international reaction. In fact, the world saw the scale of our response—from Sindoor to Sindhu,” he said, referencing India’s broader strategic stance including matters related to the Indus Waters Treaty.
He also used the moment to criticize the Congress party, accusing it of failing to support the armed forces during the crisis. “While the world backed us, it’s unfortunate that our own brave soldiers did not receive the support of Congress,” he said. “This is the new India—an India that doesn’t seek permission to defend itself.”
As debate continues over the implications of Operation Sindoor, the government maintains that India acted independently, decisively, and in full alignment with its national security priorities—unshaken by nuclear threats or international diplomatic overtures. (Source: IANS)
