Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump during a phone call that the US had no role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month and there was no discussion on a US-India trade deal during the hostilities. PM Modi also declined Trump’s invite for a stop-over visit to Washington DC on his way back from the G7 Summit in Canada, citing his scheduled visit to Croatia on June 18.

Shedding light on the 35-minute conversation, which came at Trump’s request, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “PM Modi clearly told President Trump that during the entire course of events, at no point, and at no level, was there any discussion about a US-India trade deal or about US mediation between India and Pakistan.” This was the first conversation between the two leaders since India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, and comes hours ahead of a meeting between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Trump.

“The Prime Minister said the talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries. It was done at Pakistan’s request,” Misri further said. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he mediated the ceasefire and the threat of cutting off trade forced the countries to stop the hostilities. However, India has rejected his claims, saying the ceasefire was directly negotiated upon Pakistan’s insistence.

The scheduled meeting of the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit could not take place as Trump rushed back to the United States on Tuesday amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. During the call, PM Modi briefed Trump on Operation Sindoor, emphasising that India’s actions were “measured, precise, and non-escalatory”.