India rejects Washington's claim of offering trade to halt conflict with Pakistan

INDIA has dismissed the Donald Trump administration's claim of offering trade ties to stop the military clashes with Pakistan.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday (29) that the issue of trade did not come up during talks between Indian and American leaders, while Operation Sindoor was going on.

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick told a New York court that India and Pakistan reached a "tenuous ceasefire" only after President Donald Trump offered both nations trading access with the US to avert a "full-scale war".

In the last few weeks, Trump has also repeatedly claimed that he threatened India and Pakistan that the US will stop trade with the two nations if they don't stop the conflict.

India has been consistently maintaining that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan took place following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.

"From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing was reached on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and the US leaders on the evolving military situation," Jaiswal said.

"The issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions," he added.

Jaiswal was answering questions on the Trump administration's submission at the New York court.

"The external affairs minister has also made it clear that the cessation of firing was decided upon in direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan," he said.