India strongly denied claims by US President Donald Trump that he was involved in facilitating a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad, insisting that any agreement with Pakistan was concluded exclusively through bilateral means.
Exercising India’s right of reply at the 80th UN General Assembly, Petal Gahlot, first secretary at India’s permanent mission to the UN, said: “India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issue between them will be addressed bilaterally. There is no room for any third party in that regard. This is our longstanding national position.”
She stressed India’s message to the world: “There must be zero-tolerance for terrorism. Both terrorists and their sponsors will be held accountable. Nor will we allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India will never bow to such threats.”
India also rebuked Pakistan for what it called "absurd theatrics" and its constant efforts to justify terrorism. Gahlot targeted the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's account of the May confrontations, in which Islamabad claimed victory despite Indian attacks that hit multiple Pakistani airbases.
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan also advanced a bizarre account of the recent conflict with India. Till 9 May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on 10 May, its military pleaded with us directly for a cessation to the fighting. The intervening event was the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani airbases by Indian forces. If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangers look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” she said.
Her remarks were prompted by Sharif praising Trump in his UN speech, even calling the US president worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged mediation. "Though in a position of strength, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire arranged by President Trump's bold and vigorous leadership. We express our deep appreciation to him," Sharif said, praising Trump as "a man of peace."
Trump has, on multiple occasions, taken credit for ending tensions, informing his supporters that he based his dependence on trade as leverage. "We stopped wars between India and Pakistan," he claimed, also asserting that 60 percent of world conflicts were ended "because of trade.
India, however, still denies these remarks, claiming that the move to end Operation Sindoor was prompted by a direct appeal by Pakistan's Directors General of Military Operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed Parliament that no foreign country's leader had coerced the step, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar again asserted that "there was no third-party intervention."
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