Modi Informs Trump: United States Has No Involvement in Ceasefire with Pakistan
Whether you're a fan of politics or not, the latest conversation between India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ex-US President Donald Trump has got everyone talking. Here's the lowdown on this chat and the juicy bits you might've missed.
The talk took place a few weeks ago, shortly after the Pahalgam attack in Indian-Administered Kashmir resulted in 26 civilian deaths. This was the first conversation between the two leaders since late April, as per India's Foreign Secretary.
According to leading Indian diplomat Vikram Misri, who released a video statement after the call, Modi made it clear to Trump that there was absolutely no discussion about an India-US trade deal or any US mediation at any point during the time frame between the April attack and the ceasefire on May 10. Misri stated that the ceasefire talks occurred directly between the militaries of India and Pakistan through their existing channels. No third-party intervention was required or involved.
Modi also emphasized that India has never accepted third-party mediation and will never do so in the future. This clears up the mystery surrounding Trump's previous claims that he mediated the India-Pakistan ceasefire after the four-day conflict in May.
The US President, according to Misri, "understood" the points presented by Modi during their 35-minute conversation and offered his support for countering terrorism. However, Misri didn't reveal any additional details about what exactly Trump said.
The issue of US mediation has been a contentious one, to say the least. When Trump claimed last month that the nuclear-armed neighbors had agreed to a ceasefire at the urging of the US, India (which maintains a no-interference policy on matters concerning Kashmir) stoutly denied these assertions. Some even saw it as diplomatically embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for his "pathbreaking leadership and commitment to global peace," stating that the ceasefire was agreed upon after the Pakistani military responded to a call from the Indian military. The conflicting narratives have left many confused and riled up, particularly in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.
During the call, Modi also informed Trump that India now considers cross-border terrorism as an act of war, not a proxy war. The operation against terrorists is still ongoing. Trump then asked if Modi might swing by Washington after his trip to the G7 summit in Canada. Yet, as Modi is due in Croatia for the third leg of his European diplomatic outreach, he declined the invitation. However, Modi and Trump agreed to meet in person soon.
Clearly, this phone call was full of intrigue and revelations, confirming once again that diplomacy never gets boring!
- The conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump followed the Pahalgam attack in Indian-Administered Kashmir, a conflict that resulted in 26 civilian deaths.
- During the call, Modi made it clear to Trump that there was no discussion about an India-US trade deal or any US mediation, contradicting Trump's previous claims about mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire.
- The media has been abuzz with discussions about US mediation in the Middle East, a topic that has been contentious, especially regarding Kashmir, given India's no-interference policy.
- Moving forward, Modi and Trump agreed to meet in person, emphasizing the ongoing importance of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news conversations between the two nations, particularly in light of the war-and-conflicts that continue to disrupt the region.
