New Delhi: 

Prime Minister Modi and the US President were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. However, the meeting could not take place as Trump had to return to the US early. After this, at the request of Trump, the two leaders spoke on the phone today.

During the phone call that lasted for about 35 minutes, PM Modi told the US President firmly that no mediation or trade deal led to understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. The military conflict between India and Pakistan was dangerously escalated in May following the terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians on April 22. The two countries agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” on May 10 with Trump claiming that it was a result of the US-mediated talks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to US President Donald Trump over phone and told him that no mediation or trade deal led to the ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month. He also stressed that India has never accepted and will never accept third-party mediation in its internal matters.

“The meeting of PM Modi and Donald Trump was scheduled at the G7 summit sidelines. However, Trump had to leave early for America. PM Modi had a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, which lasted approximately 35 minutes. It was the first conversation between the leaders after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, when Donald Trump expressed his condolences. PM Modi briefed Donald Trump about Operation Sindoor,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

India has never, will never accept mediation

Misri said that during the telephonic interaction with Trump, PM Modi clarified that no topics related to trade were discussed in connection with Operation Sindoor. “The Prime Minister also reiterated that India has never accepted third-party mediation and will not accept such mediation in the future. Furthermore, PM Modi emphasised that India will now treat acts of terrorism not as proxy actions but as acts of war,” he said.

India will respond to Pakistan’s bullet with a bullet

Misri further said that PM Modi talked to Trump in detail about Operation Sindoor – that was carried out by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack – and clearly told him that after April 22 India had conveyed to the entire world its determination to take action against terrorism. PM Modi said that on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, India had targeted only terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

India responded strongly to Pakistan’s attack on the night of 9-10 May, inflicting heavy damage on Pakistan Army’s military airbases. India’s strong response forced Pakistan to request India to halt military action.

“India’s actions were very measured, precise, and non-escalatory. At the same time, India had also made it clear that India will respond to Pakistan’s bullet with a bullet,” PM Modi told Trump, adding that terrorism is now seen as a war, and “not a proxy war”.

Misri said that US Vice President JD Vance had called PM Modi on the night of May 9 and told that Pakistan could launch a major attack on India. “The Prime Minister had told him in clear words that if this happens, India will give an even bigger response to Pakistan,” the foreign secretary added.

A US invite

During their telephonic conversation, Trump had asked PM Modi if he can visit the US on his return from Canada, but the latter expressed inability citing prior programmes, said Misri. Both leaders agreed to meet in the near future. PM Modi also invited Trump to India for QUAD summit. The US President accepted the invite.

The two leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. There was a discussion between the two on Russia and Ukraine war as well.

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