PM Modi Tells Trump: ‘India Never Sought US Mediation During Operation Sindoor’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday categorically rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims that America mediated the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire by leveraging trade incentives, in a significant diplomatic pushback that underscores New Delhi’s stance on sovereignty and bilateral relations.
In a 35-minute telephonic conversation initiated by Trump, Modi made it clear that India neither requested US mediation nor discussed any trade deals during the entire sequence of events surrounding Operation Sindoor, the military action India launched against terrorist bases in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7.
The conversation marks the first direct communication between the two leaders since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which triggered the military escalation that culminated in India’s cross-border strikes.
Modi’s firm rejection comes in response to Trump’s earlier claims that he had offered trade concessions to both countries to secure the ceasefire that ended four days of intense military action between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to official sources, Modi told Trump that talks regarding the cessation of military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through existing military-to-military channels, and that too at Pakistan’s own request. The Prime Minister emphasized that no third-party mediation was involved in the process.
In a statement that reflects India’s long-standing foreign policy position, Modi firmly conveyed to Trump that “India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it” on bilateral issues, particularly concerning Kashmir.
On 7 May 2025, India announced that it had launched missile and air strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting nine sites across Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province. The operation was launched in response to increasing terrorist activities traced to groups allegedly supported by Pakistan.
The diplomatic friction emerged after Trump said “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate cease-fire” on May 11, taking credit for brokering the agreement.
Trump had further claimed that his administration’s trade leverage played a crucial role in convincing both nations to de-escalate, a narrative that India has now officially rejected at the highest level.
The timing of Modi’s clarification is significant as it comes amid broader tensions in India-US relations over trade issues and Trump’s renewed focus on Kashmir mediation, which India has consistently opposed since independence.
Trump said he not only helped mediate the ceasefire, but also offered mediation over the simmering dispute in Kashmir, a Himalayan region that both India and Pakistan claim in entirety but administer in parts.
The conversation between Modi and Trump is likely to set the tone for future India-US engagements, particularly on regional security issues and trade relations, as both nations navigate their strategic partnership amid differing perspectives on conflict resolution.
