India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly rejected claims that the United States brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during last month’s military skirmishes, insisting that talks occurred solely between the two neighbouring nations. According to India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, Mr Modi conveyed to US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Tuesday that New Delhi has never accepted, nor will it accept, third-party mediation on Kashmir. The clarification follows Mr Trump’s assertion that Washington played a key role in halting hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals.
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Mr Misri stressed that no discussions were held on either a prospective India-US trade agreement or any American role in mediating the conflict. He reaffirmed India’s longstanding policy of handling all matters concerning Kashmir bilaterally. The four-day escalation, triggered by a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people—mostly Hindu tourists—led to a series of cross-border strikes and retaliations involving artillery, drones and fighter jets. Pakistan, accused by India of backing the attack, denied involvement and called for an independent probe.
Despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claims on social media that American officials had engaged with Indian and Pakistani leadership to pave the way for a ceasefire, India insists all negotiations took place via direct military channels. Mr Modi reportedly informed Mr Trump that the truce came at Pakistan’s request and was achieved without foreign intervention. He reiterated that India remains steadfast in its refusal to involve third parties in matters of national sovereignty.
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In contrast, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly expressed gratitude to President Trump, calling his efforts “pathbreaking”. While India flatly denied any external influence, the contrasting narratives highlight an ongoing diplomatic divide. The phone call, held during the G7 summit in Canada, also touched on broader security cooperation, with Mr Modi inviting Mr Trump to attend a forthcoming Quad summit in India.
