Modi to Trump: No US Mediation in Pakistan Ceasefire, India Affirms Bilateralism

 June 18, 2025 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unequivocally informed U.S. President Donald Trump that a recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan was achieved solely through direct talks between their respective militaries, firmly rejecting any notion of American mediation. The clarification came during a 35-minute phone conversation between the two leaders on Tuesday evening, June 17th.

The call, initiated by President Trump after the two leaders were unable to hold a planned bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada due to Trump's early departure, directly addressed Trump's repeated claims that the U.S. had brokered a truce between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a four-day conflict in May.

"PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-U.S. trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan," Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated in a press briefing today.

Misri further elaborated that the "talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan." He emphasized India's long-standing diplomatic position, stating, "Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do so."

The conflict in May was triggered by an April 22nd attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India blamed armed groups allegedly backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denied. On May 7th, India launched missile strikes at multiple sites, leading to a period of intense artillery and air raids between the two countries.

Modi also took the opportunity to brief Trump in detail about "Operation Sindoor," India's military response to the April 22nd attack, and made it clear that India "will now treat acts of terrorism not as proxy actions but as acts of war." He underscored that Operation Sindoor was still underway, indicating that India views the cessation of hostilities as a temporary pause rather than a complete end to its counter-terrorism efforts.

According to Misri, Trump "understood" the points put forward by Modi during the conversation and expressed support for India's fight against "terrorism." The leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, and agreed that direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine is necessary for peace. Modi also invited Trump to India for the next Quad Leaders' Summit, an invitation which Trump accepted.

The phone call highlights India's strong assertion of its sovereign right to manage bilateral issues with Pakistan without third-party interference, a consistent pillar of New Delhi's foreign policy. This firm stance directly refutes Trump's public statements about his role in mediating the recent de-escalation between the two South Asian rivals.