Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly told US President Donald Trump that India does not accept third-party mediation on Kashmir — and never has.
This statement came during a 35-minute phone call between the two leaders, as revealed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a video message posted on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that at no time, at any level, were issues such as an India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan discussed,” Misri said.
This was Modi’s first public response to Trump’s repeated claims that he intervened in the recent India-Pakistan tensions by offering a trade deal and proposing to mediate on Kashmir.
According to Misri, Modi clarified that the recent Operation Sindoor — which targeted terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — was “paused” only after a request from Pakistan, not due to any outside pressure or trade negotiations.
“India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on the issue,” Misri added.
Trump, as per the Indian side, understood Modi’s position and expressed support for India’s fight against terrorism.
The phone conversation took place just hours before Trump was scheduled to meet Pakistan’s army chief. The two leaders had originally planned to meet in person on the sidelines of the G7 summit, but Trump had to return early to the US.
During the call, Modi also discussed global issues including the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war. On Ukraine, both leaders agreed that “direct dialogue between the two sides is essential.”
Modi ended the call by inviting Trump to visit India for the next QUAD meeting — an invitation Trump accepted.
