INDIA DENIES MEDIATION
Trump said last month that India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the United States and his encouragement to prioritise trade.
But Modi told Trump during their call on Tuesday that the ceasefire had been reached through direct military talks between India and Pakistan, not US mediation, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a statement.
Pakistan has expressed appreciation for Washington’s role, while India has repeatedly denied any third-party involvement. The Tuesday call was the first between Trump and Modi since the May 7–10 conflict.
“PM 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 said.
“Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do.”
Misri said Modi and Trump had been scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, but Trump left early due to the Middle East crisis.
Trump had asked if Modi could stop by the United States after the summit, Misri said, but the Indian leader declined due to prior commitments.
The recent flare-up between the nuclear-armed neighbours began after an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants, a charge Islamabad denies.
India launched airstrikes across the border on May 7, triggering four days of retaliatory attacks that involved jets, missiles, drones and artillery.
Pakistan said the ceasefire came after its military responded to an Indian call through military channels.
Michael Kugelman of the Asia Pacific Foundation said US-India ties, which have strengthened in recent years, could suffer if Trump continues to insist on a US role in mediating the conflict or offers help on Kashmir.
“For Delhi, it all boils down to an age-old question: How much can it tolerate US-Pakistan cooperation without having it spoil US-India relations, a partnership that’s thrived in recent years despite continued US-Pakistan links,” he said.
