Jaishankar Denies Trump's Ceasefire Involvement, Confirms No Modi-Trump Call Occurred
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday firmly dismissed US President Donald Trump's assertion that he facilitated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Addressing the Lok Sabha during discussions on the terror incident and Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar unequivocally stated that there was no phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump during the specified period.
"No phone call took place between PM Modi and US President Trump between April 22 and June 17," Jaishankar informed Parliament. He elaborated that after India's retaliatory strikes, backchannel communications suggested that Pakistan was willing to cease further escalation. Nonetheless, India insisted that any such message must officially come from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
On July 23, President Trump, in a speech, claimed his intervention averted a full-scale war between the two nuclear nations. He remarked that both countries had been exchanging air strikes, stating, "They shot down five planes in the last attack. It was back and forth, back and forth. I called them and said no more trade if you do this… and I stopped it."
The White House supported Trump's account, attributing the ceasefire to his intervention after India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7 to dismantle terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Jaishankar countered this narrative by clarifying the chronology of events. He disclosed that on May 9, US Vice President JD Vance had alerted Indian leadership about a potential large-scale Pakistani offensive anticipated within hours. In retaliation, Prime Minister Modi indicated that any such aggression would be met with a decisive and proportionate response. The attempted attack was ultimately thwarted by Indian armed forces on May 9 and 10.
"Our forces prevented a major Pakistani attack. I believe this House should collectively appreciate their efforts," Jaishankar declared.
He also underscored the effectiveness of India's diplomatic outreach following the April 22 terror attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), which took responsibility for the attack, has since been designated as a global terrorist organization. International entities such as BRICS and the Quad denounced the attack, with individual nations including Germany, France, and members of the European Union voicing support for India's right to self-defense.
Jaishankar emphasized that seven parliamentary delegations visited 33 countries to communicate India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. He noted the current government accomplished feats previously unimagined, such as the targeted dismantling of terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.
He further highlighted that Pakistan's longest tenure on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list occurred under the Modi administration and cautioned about the increasing Pakistan-China collaboration, which he mentioned has been developing for decades.
The minister concluded by asserting that Operation Sindoor signifies a pivotal change in India's counterterrorism approach.
"Operation Sindoor is a new normal in how we respond to terror," he stated.
