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PM Modi, in a 35-minute phone call with Trump, firmly stated that India neither requested any mediation nor discussed trade with the US regarding the recent ‘Operation Sindoor’.
A file photo of PM Modi with Donald Trump (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Wednesday that India neither requested mediation nor discussed trade with the US in the context of its recent ‘Operation Sindoor’, in a significant rejection of Washington’s claim that it ended a four-day conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad by leveraging trade.
The talks regarding halting military action took place directly between India and Pakistan, through existing channels between the two militaries, and that too at Pakistan’s own request, PM Modi told Trump.
Prime Minister Modi also firmly stated that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. However, the meeting between the two leaders could not take place as Trump returned to Washington earlier than his schedule.
Subsequently, at Trump’s request, the two leaders spoke over the phone today.
The conversation lasted about 35 minutes.
This was the first direct conversation between the two leaders after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, when Trump had called Prime Minister Modi to express condolences and show support against terrorism.
WHAT PM MODI TOLD DONALD TRUMP
During his telephonic conversation with Trump, PM Modi said that soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, India had conveyed its firm resolve to act against terrorism to the entire world.
Prime Minister Modi said that on the night of May 6-7, India targeted only terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India’s action was measured, precise, and non-escalatory, PM Modi told Trump.
At the same time, India had also made it clear that it would respond to Pakistan’s bullets with shells.
PM Modi reiterated that at no point during this entire episode was there any discussion regarding a US-India trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan.
The ceasefire or military de-escalation happened only through existing military-to-military communication channels, and at Pakistan’s own request.
PM Modi emphasised that India has never accepted, does not accept, and will never accept mediation.
There is complete political consensus on this issue within India, he told Trump.
Prime Minister Modi also stated that India no longer considers terrorism a proxy war, but a full-scale war, and that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is still ongoing.
He further reiterated that India had made it clear that any gunfire from Pakistan would be met with stronger retaliation from India.
In response, Trump expressed support for India’s fight against terrorism.
Trump also asked Prime Minister Modi if he could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada. However, Prime Minister Modi expressed his inability to do so due to his prior commitments.
DONALD TRUMP’s INDIA-PAKISTAN MEDIATION CLAIM
Soon after India and Pakistan had reached a ceasefire on May 10, Donald Trump claimed that he mediated between the two countries, which led to a halt of fire from both sides.
Time and again, Donald Trump has claimed that he had used trade as a means for the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan.
The conversation between PM Modi and Donald Trump also comes at a time when the latter is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, over lunch on Wednesday.
Munir is on an official visit to the United States, but faced protests on Tuesday after a group of people shouted ‘Shame on you, mass murderer’ upon his arrival at a hotel in Washington.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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