- Wednesday, May 14, 2025
India has rejected Trump’s comments that Washington had a hand in ending their four-day military conflict, and rejected his offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue
By: India Weekly
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s repeated claim that his administration “successfully brokered a historic ceasefire” to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, is drawing angry reactions.
India carried out precision strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor‘ on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.
The two countries reached an understanding on Saturday, May 10.
On Saturday, Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” after a “long night of talks mediated by the United States.”
Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump offered to work with India and Pakistan for a “solution” on Kashmir, while crediting Washington for helping the two nations arrive at the “historic and heroic decision” of stopping the conflict.
India on Tuesday (13) rejected Trump’s comments that Washington had a hand in ending their four-day military conflict.
Indian government sources in New Delhi have been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. They said no third party was involved.
The external affairs ministry also tried to push back against Trump’s offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, said India has a “longstanding” national position that any issue relating to Jammu and Kashmir will have to be addressed by New Delhi and Islamabad bilaterally.
“That stated policy (on Jammu and Kashmir) has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, while addressing a Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday (13), he said, “Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan.”
“And I used trade to a large extent to do it. And I said, ‘Fellows, come on. Let’s make a deal. Let’s do some trading,” Trump said to applause from the high-level audience, which included billionaire Elon Musk.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also applauded.
“Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things that you make so beautifully. And they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders. And it all stopped. Hopefully, it’ll remain that way, but it all stopped,” Trump said.
Trump once again made the same claim while speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One after he wrapped up his Saudi Arabia visit on Tuesday.
This was the fifth time since Saturday (10) that Trump has claimed that the US brokered the “ceasefire” between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Trump supporter upset
Trump’s stand has now even upset some of his ardent Indian-American supporters.
A lengthy post on X by Vibhuti Jha, who claims to be a ‘proud Hindu’ and a Trump supporter, has said that Trump has now “betrayed” the Indian-American community by “equating a terrorist country with India”.
Message for @POTUS @realDonaldTrump – Indian Americans like me supported you wholeheartedly since 2016! You created hope within the Indian community. We endured abusive behavior from dem supporting Indian Americans! We did that for you because you conveyed strong message about ‘I…
— Vibhuti Jha 🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@VJjha) May 13, 2025
“Indian Americans admired you for your bold and brave statements on Islamic terrorism – but today you betrayed them by equating a terrorist country with India.”
He claims Indian Americans love Trump, “but you so unnecessarily shafted them”.
Former Indian diplomat Mahesh Sachdev questioned Trump’s actions and claimed he may be making those statements with some personal motives.
He told ANI, “His motives are not difficult to guess. They range from aspiring to get a Nobel Peace Prize to appealing to his base of middle-class Americans, waiting for Trump to deliver the world to them and make America great again.”
The former envoy hailed India’s response towards Trump’s claims and said, “We have acted wisely by largely ignoring such boastful claims.”
Congress party concern
The opposition Congress party on Wednesday (14) took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government over Trump’s repeated claims.
They asked what the “typically loquacious” prime minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar have to say about this revelation.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “A few days ago we learnt of the ceasefire with Pakistan from the president of the United States. Now, at a public event in Saudi Arabia yesterday, the president reveals that he may have coerced and blackmailed India into this ceasefire using the carrot-and-stick of sanctions and trade deals.”
“What do the typically loquacious PM and EAM have to say about this revelation? Did they mortgage India’s security interests in the face of US pressure?” Ramesh said on X.
“Ameriki papa ne war rukwa di kya?” he added.
The Congress was taking a swipe at the BJP for an advertisement it had put out last year claiming that Modi had stopped the Russia-Ukraine war.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday (13) asked the government to clarify if Trump’s claims of halting military actions between India and Pakistan were true or a self-boast.
In an interview with PTI Videos, the former federal home minister expressed concern over no country coming out openly in support of India following its May 7 strikes on terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said China’s support to Islamabad was also a matter of concern.
Describing Trump’s claims of having brought a halt to the hostilities and preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan as “very intriguing”, he said the Indian government must clarify on the claims.
Chidambaram also said Trump was an “uninvited guest” in matters between India and Pakistan.
He demanded the government convene an all-party meeting and a session of Parliament and answer the opposition’s questions.
Chidambaram criticized the prime minister for skipping the all-party meetings on April 24 and May 7. The prime minister should have attended those meetings, he said.
He also questioned whether India had lost planes during Operation Sindoor.
“Army and air force officers have practically admitted that we have suffered some losses. Although I don’t accept Pakistan’s exaggerated claims. In a war situation, both sides will lose some equipment. Have we lost planes? Have we suffered damage? All that must be told to the opposition leaders,” Chidambaram said. (Agencies)
