Prime Minister's Office
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly told US President Donald Trump that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan following a four-day conflict in May was the result of direct talks between the two nations’ militaries, not US mediation, according to a senior Indian diplomat.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that Modi made the position “very clear” to Trump during a phone conversation. “Prime Minister Modi told President Trump unambiguously that at no point during this period was there any discussion on topics like an India-US trade deal or any role for the United States in mediating between India and Pakistan,” Misri said.
He explained that the ceasefire was the result of communication through established military channels between the two countries and was initiated at Pakistan’s request. “Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India has not accepted external mediation in the past and will never do so,” Misri added.
The conversation between the two leaders took place late Tuesday evening, after they were unable to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, where Modi was present as a special invitee. The phone call, which lasted 35 minutes, reportedly happened at Trump’s request.
Trump had previously claimed that the United States played a mediating role in bringing about the ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Last month, the former US president stated that hostilities between India and Pakistan deescalated following his appeal for both countries to prioritize trade over conflict.
The White House has not issued any immediate statement regarding the call between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has maintained that the ceasefire was agreed upon after its military responded to an initial call made by the Indian military on May 7. Speaking to Al Jazeera in May, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar denied any role played by the United States in securing the truce, insisting that Islamabad acted independently.
The conflict, which erupted on April 22 after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 civilians—mostly tourists—was blamed by India on armed groups allegedly supported by Pakistan. Islamabad has denied those allegations.
India responded to the attack on May 7 with missile strikes targeting multiple locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The hostilities continued for three days, during which both countries launched artillery and air raids, striking each other’s military installations, including airbases.
Pakistan has reported that at least 51 people were killed in Indian strikes, including 11 soldiers and several children. On the Indian side, the military confirmed the deaths of at least five service members during the cross-border campaign, dubbed Operation Sindoor.
According to Misri, President Trump expressed support for India’s ongoing efforts against what he described as “terrorism,” and Modi told him that Operation Sindoor was still active.
