President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House (File).
- India firmly rejects any third-party mediation regarding Jammu and Kashmir
- Prime Minister Modi conveyed this stance in a call with President Trump
- The discussion included India's Operation Sindoor response to the Pahalgam terror attack
India has never asked for, and will never accept, third-party mediation to resolve the issue of Pakistan's illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir - this was the highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late Tuesday phone conversation with US President Donald Trump.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the press Wednesday morning about that 35-minute phone call - which took place while Mr Modi was in Canada to attend the G7 Summit - said the topic came up after Mr Trump asked Prime Minister Modi for details about Operation Sindoor.
Op Sindoor was India's successful military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The PM told Mr Trump India's response had been "measured" and targeted only terrorist camps in Pak and Pak-occupied Kashmir. The PM then also underlined India's position on third-party mediation - that it is neither wanted nor needed - and that this has always been the case.
"PM Modi stressed India has never accepted mediation, and does not accept and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on this," Mr Misri told the press.
The strong statement follows Mr Trump having repeatedly claimed credit for the Op Sindoor ceasefire - something India has firmly denied - and offering his 'services' to negotiate the Kashmir issue too.
It also echoes Mr Modi's statement from May 12; the Prime Minister, in his first address to the nation after the Op Sindoor ceasefire, told Pakistan that there could be no talks over Jammu and Kashmir, except to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the region and return India's territory.
READ | 'Vacate Illegally Occupied Kashmir': India Says Demand To Pak Won't Change
"If we ever talk to Pakistan, it will be on terror and PoK only," the PM had said.
Tuesday's Modi-Trump phone call (and contents) is significant in the context of a confirmed meet between Mr Trump and Pak Army chief General Syed Asim Munir, who is in the US.
US President Donald Trump and Pak Army chief Gen Asim Munir (File).
The Pak military leader will have lunch with Mr Trump at 1 pm Easten Time (10.30 pm IST) in the White House's Cabinet Room, according to the President's daily public schedule.
READ | Trump To Meet Pak Army Chief Munir After US Denied Parade Invite Claim
The timing is critical because Iran and Israel are inching closer to all-out war that could spread to Pak - it shares a land border with Iran - and consequently force to US to deploy troops.
The US will likely be compelled to act to safeguard Pak, which it sees as an ally in the region.
On paper the visit - the first since the Pahalgam attack that was sponsored by the Pak deep state - is 'primarily bilateral' and aimed at reinforcing military and strategic ties with the US.
'No Trade Deal Angle, Pak Asked For Ceasefire'
Meanwhile, on Mr Trump's claiming credit for the ceasefire, which he has done often, the PM said cessation of hostilities had been at the request of Pak and that Delhi and Islamabad discussed terms through existing channels of communication between the two militaries.
The India-US trade deal played no party in this episode, the PM also said, countering claims that the threat of high(er) tariffs on Indian and Pak exports to the US had brought the conflict to a halt.
READ | "Complicated, Nothing Decided Till...": S Jaishankar On US Trade Deal
"Let's not trade nukes, let's trade..." was what Mr Trump said he told India and Pakistan.
Trump's US Visit Invite
Foreign Secretary Misri said Mr Trump had 'lauded' India's efforts and invited Mr Modi to visit the US after his G7 trip. However, due to prior engagements, the PM had to decline the offer.
The phone call, it was confirmed, was in lieu of an in-person meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. However, because Mr Trump had left early this meeting could not take place.
The phone call was at the request of Mr Trump, the Foreign Secretary said.
With input from agencies
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