During a discussion of Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that there was not one conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump (then President of the U.S.) that occurred between April 22 and June 17.
His comments were in response to questions and comments about the Indian military operation, especially in context to Trump's comments that he intervened, by putting pressure on trade deal that brought India and Pakistan to a ceasefire agreement.
“I want to make two things very clear. One, at no stage in any conversation with the United States was there any linkage with trade and what was going on,” Jaishankar said in Lok Sabha on Monday.
“Secondly, there was no call between the Prime Minister [Modi] and President Trump from the 22nd of April when President Trump called up to convey his sympathy and the 17th of June, when he called up Prime Minister [Modi] in Canada to explain why he could not meet,” Jaishankar added.
On May 7, India commenced military operations under Operation Sindoor, following the deadly terrorist attack waged on Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities, primarily civilians.
The operation developed into a significant military engagement between India and Pakistan, in which Pakistan attempted to target India with drones and missiles, but failed.
The fighting ultimately calmed down after four days of fighting, when Pakistan DGMO contacted the DGMO for India and suggested a ceasefire.
While Donald Trump (former U.S. President) made numerous claims that his trade negotiation elevated and dissipated tensions, India has held firmly that the ceasefire on May 10 was based solely on direct communication between the DGMOs.
"This contact was initiated by the Pakistani side," India has said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began the debate in parliament on Operation Sindoor on Monday, noting that the military strikes carried out on May 7 were completed in 22 minutes. He noted that the operation is not over - it is "on pause".
Rajnath Singh spoke during a special conversation in the Lok Sabha on the trrror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent operation. He explained that the pause was intentional - after the armed forces met their intended politico-military objectives - and there was "no external pressure" for India to stop the operation.
Rajnath Singh indicated that if Pakistan does anything hostile again, they would resume Operation Sindoor without hesitation. He assured the House that India's armed forces are always on duty and prepared to protect India's border.
He described the operation as a timely and coordinated military response that targeted nine terror facilities - of the nine terror camps, seven were completely neutralized. Besides, Rajnath Singh stated that India has credible evidence of the damage carried out inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and over the border.
Read also| Operation Sindoor Strikes Sent Clear Message to Pakistan, says Army chief Upendra Dwivedi
