In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s controversial claim that his mediation ended last month’s India-Pakistan conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly clarified that the ceasefire was brokered solely through direct talks between the two militaries, with no involvement from the US. The statement came after Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House in an unprecedented meeting seen as risking further tensions with India.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated: “PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no discussion on an India–US trade deal or any US mediation. Ceasefire talks happened directly between India and Pakistan through military channels, and at Pakistan’s insistence. India has never accepted mediation in the past and never will.”
The clarification followed a 35-minute phone call between Modi and Trump, initiated by Trump after the two leaders were unable to meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, which Modi attended as a guest. Trump had earlier claimed that he helped broker peace after urging both nations to focus on trade instead of conflict.
Speaking later at a public event in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Modi revealed that he had declined Trump’s invitation to Washington, citing prior commitments: “I was in Canada for the G7 Summit when President Trump invited me to Washington for talks and lunch. I thanked him, saying I had to visit Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath.”
Marking his first appearance at the BJP government’s anniversary celebrations in Odisha, Modi also launched development projects worth ₹18,600 crore. Foreign Secretary Misri added that Modi had invited Trump to visit India later this year for the Quad Summit.
Following Modi’s declined invitation, Trump’s high-profile meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, the first of its kind at the White House, triggered renewed debate over his claim of having prevented a potential nuclear escalation. After the talks, Trump said he was honoured to meet Munir and thanked him for helping end the conflict, adding he had also praised PM Modi: “Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war,” Trump told reporters.
Last week, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about securing trade deals with both India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in New Jersey, Trump predicted that the US would successfully negotiate agreements with both nations.
Modi wraps G7 with strong anti-terror message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently concluded a key diplomatic tour, attending the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, and visiting Croatia. A central theme of his engagements was a strong call for a unified global stance against terrorism, urging nations to reject double standards.
At the G7 outreach session on energy security, PM Modi called for accountability for nations supporting terrorism, questioning the global community’s credibility when such countries are “rewarded.” Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack as “an assault on all humanity,” Modi urged international institutions to act decisively and avoid equating perpetrators with victims.
He also championed the Global South, stressing how global conflicts disproportionately impact these nations, particularly in food, fuel, fertiliser, and financial security and reaffirmed India’s commitment to amplify their voice.
On the G7 sidelines, Modi met Canadian PM Mark Carney to revitalise India–Canada ties, agreeing to appoint new High Commissioners, normalise diplomatic channels, and collaborate in clean energy, AI, digital transformation, and critical minerals. Talks also covered resuming comprehensive economic partnership negotiations.
PM Modi also met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, all aimed at deepening trade, economic ties, and strategic cooperation.
Following the G7, PM Modi visited Croatia, the first Indian Prime Minister to do so, where he was warmly received by Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic. The two leaders signed MoUs in agriculture, culture, and science to boost trade, innovation, and defence cooperation. Plenkovic also praised India’s leadership in the India–Middle East–Europe economic corridor, seeing it as an opportunity for Croatia to enhance its Mediterranean role.
