KANANASKIS, Alberta, June 18 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly rejected claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a four-day conflict in May.
According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Modi clarified the matter during a phone call with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. Misri said, “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 U.S. mediation between India and Pakistan.”
The Indian government has consistently opposed any third-party involvement in its disputes with Pakistan, including on the issue of Kashmir. Misri emphasized that “Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do.”
The G7 summit was expected to include an in-person meeting between Modi and Trump, but the U.S. President left early due to developments in the Middle East. However, the two leaders managed to speak by phone for 35 minutes, reportedly at Trump’s request.
Trump has previously stated he helped stop a potential war between the two South Asian nuclear-armed rivals. He told reporters, “I stopped a war between India and Pakistan. And I stopped it with trade. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a story written about it, but it was pretty cool.”
Speaking on the Kashmir issue, Trump also remarked, “You’ve had a long-time rivalry over Kashmir. And I said, I can solve anything. I’ll be your arbitrator. I will be your arbitrator… They said, 2,000 years. I said oh, that’s a long time.”
However, Indian officials have categorically rejected any foreign mediation. Misri reiterated, “Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it.”
The May hostilities were triggered by an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, most of them tourists. India blamed the attack on militants backed by Pakistan — a charge Islamabad denied. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting cross-border strikes on what it called terrorist infrastructure.
Misri said Trump expressed support for India’s counter-terrorism actions during the call, and Modi invited him to visit India later in the year for the Quad leaders’ summit — an invitation Trump accepted.
Despite Trump’s remarks about mediation and trade diplomacy, India maintains its longstanding stance that all matters concerning Pakistan, including Kashmir, are bilateral and will not involve external parties.