Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday firmly rejected former US president Donald Trump’s assertion that trade was used as leverage to secure a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during recent hostilities. Speaking during a Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar clarified that “at no stage in any conversation between India and the United States was there any linkage with trade.” He further emphasized that there were no calls between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump during the critical period, and India has always maintained direct handling of its disputes with Pakistan.
Ceasefire Resulted from DGMO-Level Talks
Jaishankar explained that after India retaliated to Pakistan’s attack, phone calls indicated Pakistan’s willingness to halt hostilities. However, India insisted that a formal request must come through the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both nations, reinforcing that the ceasefire was not negotiated via outside mediation but through established military-to-military channels. India has consistently pointed to an understanding reached through these direct talks, refuting Trump’s public statements about his mediation role and the supposed impact of trade talks on the ceasefire.
Operation Sindoor & Political Ripples
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam attack. The ceasefire agreement came on May 10 after four days of intense cross-border strikes. Jaishankar also criticized the Congress party, highlighting the Modi government’s resolve in striking terror sites in Bahawalpur and Muridke—actions he said were unprecedented and recognized globally. He credited Indian diplomacy for internationally proscribing TRF, which had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
