Mediation, Kashmir & trade: Delhi rebuts Trump claims point by point

This is the strongest counter by Delhi since Saturday’s claims by Trump on the range of issues and makes clear its discomfiture with Trump wading into India-Pakistan politics and hostilities.

In his first term, in July 2019, Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir. New Delhi had denied that claim then following which Trump had walked back on the mediation offer saying he would only intervene if asked by both countries — a standard formulation adopted by Washington.

This time, though, the tone and tenor of the counter is more aggressive and comes even as both countries have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal amid the 90-day pause on universal tariffs has been in place till early July. The US is also keen to increase defence sales to India, including offering F-35 fighter aircraft, discussed during Modi’s visit to Washington in February.

For the record, in posts on Truth Social and remarks in public, on Saturday, 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.

On Monday, he reiterated his claim adding that his administration stopped a “nuclear conflict” — saying “millions…could have died” — and claimed he told India and Pakistan that America will do a “lot of trade” with them if they end hostilities.

Responding to Trump’s comments on Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Tuesday: “We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”

On the stoppage of action and mediation claims, the MEA spokesperson gave an account of the sequence of events: “The specific date, time and wording of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on 10 May 2025 commencing 1535 hrs. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs (on May 10). The Pakistani side had initial difficulties connecting the hotline to the Indian side for technical reasons. The timing was then decided based on the availability of the Indian DGMO at 1535 hrs.”

“You will, of course, appreciate that early on the 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing,” he said, underlining India’s military and technological superiority as they targeted eight military bases.

“As regards conversations with other nations, the message from India was clear and consistent. And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations. It was that India was responding to the 22 April terrorist attack (at Pahalgam) by targeting the terrorist infrastructure. However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Op Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time. It is natural that many foreign leaders who heard this from us would have shared it with their Pakistani interlocutors,” he said.

On speculation on nuclear war by Trump, the MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said: “The military action was entirely in the conventional domain. There were some reports that Pakistan’s National Command Authority will meet on 10 May. But this was later denied by them. Pakistan FM has himself denied the nuclear angle on record.”

“As you know, India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it. In conversations with various countries, we also cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region,” he said.

On Trump’s claim on trade, the MEA spokesperson was categorical: “From the time Op Sindoor commenced on 07 May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10 May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”

The MEA spokesperson also countered the claims of hyphenation of India-Pakistan, as he said, “On the contrary, there is widespread understanding in the world that Indian tourists were the victims of terrorism at Pahalgam and that the epicentre of terrorism is across the border in Pakistan. A number of foreign leaders in their conversations with Indian counterparts recognized India’s right to defend itself and protect its people. I also draw your attention to the UN Security Council press statement of 25 April which states that ‘the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable’.”

Jaiswal reiterated that India’s stand was clear and consistent from the start.

“We would target terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan. If the Pakistani military stayed out, there would be no problem. If they fired on us, we would respond suitably. Till the night of 9th May, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed on 10th May morning and received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us. In essence, India’s position remained the same; Pakistan’s position changed on 10th May morning after its air bases were effectively put out of action. All you have to do is look at who called whom to negotiate the terms of the cessation of firing,” Jaiswal said.

“By the way, you all know that satellite pictures are available commercially. I urge you to look at the sites which Pakistan claims to have attacked. Contrast it with the places which we successfully targeted and destroyed. That will give you a clear picture,” he said.

Countdown to Ceasefire

May 9 night: US V-P J D Vance dials PM Modi who tells him an Indian retaliation will be “bigger, deeper and harder”

May 10 early hours: Pak attacks 26 locations, India responds by striking Pak military bases

May 10 morning: Pak Army chief Gen Asim Munir talks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who dials EAM S Jaishankar

May 10, 12.37 pm: Pak High Commission reaches out for a call with Indian DGMO

3.35 pm: India, Pak DGMOs speak and agree to stop military action and firing from 5 pm

5.25 pm: Trump announces ceasefire

5.30 pm: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announces pause