Modi rejects Trump’s claim of US mediation in India-Pakistan ceasefire
3 Min Read
India's PM Modi tells Trump the May ceasefire with Pakistan was achieved via direct military talks, rejecting claims of US mediation or trade influence.
-
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a business forum in Limassol, Cyprus, on June 15, 2025. (AP)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refuted US President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that Washington mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during their four-day military conflict in May.
According to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Modi clarified in a phone call with Trump on Tuesday that the ceasefire was due to direct communication between the two militaries and not external intervention.
The call, which took place on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, where Modi attended as a guest, was the leaders’ first direct exchange since the May 7–10 confrontations. Trump had previously stated that his intervention helped de-escalate tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors and encouraged them to prioritize trade.
"Prime Minister Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like an India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan," Misri told reporters, stressing that ceasefire negotiations were conducted through existing military channels, initiated by Pakistan, and that India had firmly rejected any third-party involvement.
He said, "Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan," adding that "Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do so."
While the White House has yet to comment on the call, Indian officials noted that Trump was scheduled to meet Modi in person during the G7 summit but left a day early due to escalating developments in the West Asia region.
Earlier last month, Trump posted on his Truth Social account, "After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE."
Additionally, the State Department announced on May 10 that Secretary Marco Rubio "offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts."
Ceasefire followed cross-border escalation in disputed Kashmir
The latest flare-up between India and Pakistan was triggered by a deadly April 22 attack in disputed Kashmir that killed 26 people. India blamed the assault on Pakistan-backed militants, an allegation Islamabad firmly denied.
On May 7, Indian fighter jets struck targets across the Line of Control, sparking four days of intense retaliatory exchanges. Both sides launched missiles, deployed drones, and engaged in heavy artillery fire, marking the most severe hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Pakistan’s military later acknowledged that a ceasefire agreement followed a returned call from the Indian side on May 7.
During their phone conversation, Trump expressed strong support for India’s alleged counterterrorism efforts, while Modi reportedly told him that Operation Sindoor, the cross-border campaign, remained active. Trump also inquired about Modi visiting the US after his trip to Canada, but the latter declined due to prior engagements.
