On June 18, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a 35-minute phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump from Canada’s G7 Summit, firmly rejected claims that the U.S. mediated the India-Pakistan ceasefire following Operation Sindoor. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the media, said Modi clarified that the ceasefire, prompted by Pakistan’s request through military channels, involved no U.S. mediation or trade deal discussions, countering Trump’s assertions of brokering the May 2025 truce.
In This Article:
Operation Sindoor: A Response to Terror
Operation Sindoor was India’s decisive military action launched on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after a deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 tourists. Blamed on Pakistan-backed groups like The Resistance Front, the strikes escalated tensions as Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks on May 9-10, targeting Indian civilian areas. India’s forceful counterattack damaged Pakistani airbases, prompting Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to request a ceasefire on May 12. Modi emphasized to Trump that India’s actions were “measured, precise, and non-escalatory,” aimed solely at terror infrastructure.
Debunking Trump’s Mediation Claims
Trump repeatedly claimed he mediated the ceasefire, citing trade threats as leverage, stating on May 10, “I settled it through trade.” India swiftly refuted this, with Misri asserting, “India has never accepted, does not accept, and will never accept third-party mediation.” Modi reiterated this during the call, stressing “complete political unanimity” in India against mediation, particularly on Kashmir. He clarified that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the Indian and Pakistani DGMOs, with no U.S. involvement or trade deal linkage.
Political Backlash and Congress Criticism
The Congress party, led by Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, criticized Modi’s initial silence on Trump’s claims, with Khera alleging a “sindoor ka sauda” (deal over dignity) and demanding an all-party meeting. Modi’s call addressed these concerns, with BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla countering Congress for spreading “fake news.” Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, diplomatically noted India’s restraint to preserve U.S. ties, highlighting the delicate balance in rejecting Trump’s narrative.
Broader Discussions and Global Context
Modi briefed Trump on India’s view of terrorism as “actual war,” not proxy conflict, signaling Operation Sindoor’s ongoing status. The leaders also discussed the Israel-Iran conflict and QUAD’s role in the Indo-Pacific. Modi declined Trump’s invitation for a U.S. stopover but invited him to the upcoming QUAD Summit in India.
PM Modi’s firm rebuttal of Trump’s mediation claims reaffirms India’s stance on sovereignty and direct bilateral talks. By addressing Operation Sindoor’s context and dismissing trade or mediation links, Modi quelled domestic criticism and clarified India’s position globally. Watch the full briefing on Doordarshan’s YouTube channel for more details.
-By Manoj H
