India has firmly denied claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding American mediation in the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that no discussions on trade took place during diplomatic conversations between the two countries.
Tensions escalated sharply following the Pahalgam attack, which India attributed to Pakistani-based terrorists. In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a military offensive targeting terrorist elements across the border. The conflict, which began on May 7, lasted for three days before a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10.
In the aftermath, Donald Trump claimed the U.S. played a pivotal role in easing the situation. “If both countries are ready for a ceasefire, America will help them with trade. If not, America will not engage in trade with either of them. I conveyed this message to the leadership of both India and Pakistan, and soon after, they agreed to a ceasefire,” Trump said during a public address.
However, India has refuted these assertions. Speaking at a press conference, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that while discussions with U.S. leadership did occur during the period of heightened military tension, trade was never part of the dialogue.
“After Operation Sindoor on May 7, and until military action ceased on May 10, there was continuous communication between Indian and U.S. leadership. However, the subject of trade was not discussed in any of these conversations,” Jaiswal stated firmly.
India’s rejection of Trump’s narrative underscores the country’s stance on handling national security issues independently and counters any implication of external influence in its strategic decisions.