New Delhi: There was no phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 17, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar firmly stated in the Lok Sabha on Monday during the debate on Operation Sindoor.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US intervened and used trade offers to facilitate a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan on May 10 after four days of military conflict following India’s targeted strikes on nine terror hubs located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, to avenge the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
“I want to make two things very clear. One, at no stage in any conversation with the United States was there any linkage with trade and what was going on,” Jaishankar stated.
“Secondly, there was no call between the Prime Minister (Modi) and President Trump from the 22nd of April when President Trump called up to convey his sympathy and the 17th of June, when he called up the Prime Minister in Canada to explain why he could not meet (during G7 Summit),” Jaishankar added.
Even as Trump continues to claim credit for the ceasefire, India has all through maintained that military action was ultimately halted on May 10 after direct contact between the DGMOs of both nations, with Pakistan reaching out to India first.
Shedding light on India’s discussions with the US during Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar said that American Vice-President JD Vance had called Modi, warning him of a massive attack from Pakistan, to which the Indian PM replied that India would respond even more strongly.
Also Read: Rajnath Singh Lashes Out At Opposition For Questioning Whether Operation Sindoor Was Successful
Jaishankar said that India successfully thwarted repeated attacks from Pakistan on May 9 and 10, adding that several countries contacted India on May 10 to inform New Delhi that Pakistan was ready for a ceasefire.
The minister further informed the House that India made it clear to all countries it would only consider ceasefire talks from Pakistan if they came through the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) channel.
Amit Shah intervention amid Opposition protest
Opposition parties, which had been demanding a special Parliament session on Operation Sindoor, began protesting Jaishankar’s statement, leading Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene.
Shah said that the Opposition was quick to dismiss their own foreign minister, but have faith in some other country.
“I have an objection that they (Opposition) don’t have faith in an Indian Foreign Minister I can understand the importance of foreign in their party. But this doesn’t mean that all the things of their party should be imposed here in the House. This is the reason why they are sitting there (opposition benches), and will remain sitting there for the next 20 years,” Shah said.