Not Just the U.S., Many Countries Reached Out: Jaishankar Responds to Trump’s India-Pakistan Ceasefire Claims

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (Photo: IANS)
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Amsterdam– External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday clarified that the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was a direct outcome of bilateral communication and not the result of external mediation, despite repeated claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that his administration brokered the deal.

Speaking in an interview with Netherlands-based NOS, Jaishankar explained that the cessation of hostilities was initiated after Pakistan made the first move. He emphasized that the understanding was reached solely through direct military and diplomatic channels between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Jaishankar acknowledged that while several countries, including the United States, reached out between May 7 and May 10 following the launch of Operation Sindoor, these efforts were diplomatic in nature and did not influence the terms or outcome of the ceasefire.

“It is natural for nations to engage diplomatically when military conflict is underway,” he said, adding that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had both communicated with Indian counterparts. “Secretary Rubio spoke to me, and Vice President Vance spoke to Prime Minister Modi,” he noted.

Detailing how the ceasefire was agreed upon, Jaishankar said that India made its stance clear: if Pakistan wanted to stop the firing, its military leadership would have to make the call directly to their Indian counterparts. “That’s exactly how it happened,” he said. India also conveyed to other nations, including the U.S., that any desire for a ceasefire from Pakistan must be communicated to India through direct channels, not via intermediaries.

His remarks reinforced the Indian government’s consistent position that the ceasefire was a response to Pakistan’s urgent appeals to halt hostilities, particularly after Indian forces targeted multiple airbases across the border.

Despite the government’s position, opposition leaders in India have continued to question the credibility of Trump’s claims. Congress has demanded clarity on why Prime Minister Modi has not publicly refuted Trump’s repeated statements.

Earlier today, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera posted a video clip of Trump and noted this was the eighth time the former U.S. President had claimed credit for ending Operation Sindoor. “He claims to have used trade leverage to get India to halt Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Modi hasn’t denied this even once. What does this silence mean?” Khera wrote on X.

During a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House last night, Trump again claimed responsibility for the ceasefire. “If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India—we settled that whole thing. And I think I settled it through trade,” he said.

Trump had earlier stated on May 10 that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” following a long night of talks allegedly mediated by Washington. (Source: IANS)

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