Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, clarified that the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan last month was the result of direct communication between the two countries' militaries, without any external mediation. Modi firmly conveyed that India does not and will never accept third-party mediation, and that the dialogue to halt military actions was initiated by Pakistan itself. This statement directly countered Trump's repeated claims that he had brokered the ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the phone call between the two leaders lasted nearly 35 minutes and covered several critical issues, including recent military clashes and regional tensions. Modi emphasized that India now regards terrorism not as a proxy war but as a full-fledged war, and noted that Operation Sindoor—India’s counter-terrorism operation—remains in progress. He reiterated that India's response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam had been decisive and precisely targeted at terrorist camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Trump had previously announced on May 10 that a ceasefire had been agreed upon, crediting his own intervention, including threats to suspend trade with both countries, as the reason for the de-escalation. However, Modi made it clear that no such discussion or proposal had occurred between India and the United States, either regarding a trade deal or mediation efforts. Instead, he stressed that India’s military actions were carefully measured and non-escalatory, intended only to eliminate terrorist threats, and that any aggression from Pakistan would be met with a strong and immediate response.

The Indian response on the night of May 9–10, following a warning from U.S. Vice President JD Vance about a potential Pakistani attack, was described as decisive. Indian strikes rendered several Pakistani military airbases inoperable, and this strong retaliation compelled Pakistan to request a ceasefire. Misri explained that India’s firm and targeted actions forced Islamabad to step back and seek an end to the hostilities.

President Trump also asked if Prime Minister Modi could make a stopover in the United States while returning from Canada, but Modi declined due to prior engagements. Nonetheless, both leaders expressed willingness to meet soon and discussed various global matters during the call, including the conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. They agreed on the importance of direct dialogue in resolving the Russia-Ukraine war and shared their perspectives on the Indo-Pacific region. Both reaffirmed their support for the Quad alliance, and Modi extended an invitation to Trump to visit India for the upcoming Quad Summit, which Trump accepted.

Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in response to the terror attack, marked the beginning of four days of military clashes that ended with a mutual understanding to cease hostilities on May 10. The Indian government has maintained that its strong counter-attack was what ultimately compelled Pakistan to agree to stop the conflict.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from AP.