New Delhi| June,18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told US President Donald Trump during a phone call that the United States played no role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which occurred last month. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri detailed that Modi emphasized there was no discussion regarding a US-India trade deal during the hostilities, countering Trump’s previous claims of US mediation. This conversation marked the first interaction between the two leaders since India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7.
Prime Minister Modi told President Trump that discussions about halting military actions were conducted directly between India and Pakistan, initiated by Pakistan’s request. Trump had previously asserted that his administration’s trade threats influenced the ceasefire, a claim India firmly rejected.
During the call, PM Modi provided an update on Operation Sindoor, describing India’s military actions as “measured, precise, and non-escalatory.” He also mentioned that US Vice President JD Vance had warned India of a potential large-scale attack from Pakistan on May 9. Following this, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks, to which India responded decisively, damaging Pakistani military capabilities. Modi reiterated India’s stance against third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue, asserting that India has consistently rejected such involvement. He highlighted a strong political consensus within India on this matter.
Additionally, Modi invited Trump to attend the upcoming QUAD Summit in India, which Trump accepted, although he did not confirm his attendance. The leaders discussed the strategic significance of the QUAD in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region amid China’s growing influence. They also touched upon the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and agreed on the necessity of direct negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, committing to support such diplomatic efforts.
