New Delhi– Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear to U.S. President Donald Trump that no discussions on trade or third-party mediation took place during India’s Operation Sindoor, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Misri said on Wednesday that the clarification was conveyed during a recent 35-minute phone conversation between the two leaders—prompted by President Trump—after a planned meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit was canceled due to Trump’s early return to the U.S.
The call marked their first interaction since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists and prompted India to launch retaliatory strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Prime Minister Modi told President Trump that India’s military action was a direct response to the Pahalgam attack and was coordinated through existing military channels with Pakistan,” Misri said. “He emphasized that at no point were India-U.S. trade talks or mediation part of the discussions, contrary to public claims made by President Trump.”
Trump had previously suggested that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was brokered by his administration through trade diplomacy. On May 12, just ahead of the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement, Trump claimed, “I think I settled it through trade. We’re doing a big deal with India. We’re doing a big deal with Pakistan.”
India immediately rejected the assertion, and Misri confirmed that PM Modi reaffirmed India’s position during the call, reiterating that India does not seek and will never accept mediation on matters related to Pakistan.
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam attack, targeted nine high-value terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoK. Misri described the strikes as “measured, precise, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing that India had warned of a strong military response to any terror provocation.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched strikes that hit not just Indian military assets but also civilian and religious sites. According to Misri, following India’s counteroffensive on May 9–10—which inflicted significant damage on Pakistani military infrastructure—Pakistan formally requested a ceasefire.
Misri said the Prime Minister made it clear that “the ceasefire was agreed upon solely at Pakistan’s request” and reiterated that India’s response to any further cross-border terror attack would be immediate and forceful.
President Trump, he added, was supportive of India’s stance and expressed solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
The call also touched on broader global issues, including the Israel-Iran conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv and invited Trump to India for the next QUAD summit—a proposal the U.S. President accepted.
Misri also revealed that U.S. Vice President Vance had warned PM Modi of a possible major Pakistani retaliatory strike on May 9. Modi reportedly responded that any such action would be met with “even greater force,” which was borne out by India’s counterstrikes that night, disabling multiple Pakistani airbases.
Although Trump expressed interest in a stopover visit by PM Modi on his return from Canada, the Prime Minister declined due to prior commitments. Both leaders agreed to explore the possibility of meeting soon. (Source: IANS)
