India will never accept mediation: PM Modi

Srinagar, Jun 18: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear to United States President Donald Trump that India will “never accept” mediation on any issue.
The Foreign Secretary said that PM Modi in a 35-minute telephone call to the United States President stated that India will “never accept” mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions last month were initiated at Islamabad’s request.
PM Modi also said that India no longer views “terrorism as a proxy war, but as a war itself”, and that India’s Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.
Pertinently, the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was first announced by President Trump on May 10. Since then, the US president has been claiming that he brokered the ceasefire deal by threatening to stop trade with both countries if they do not agree to stop the conflict.
Prime Minister Modi declined a request by the US president to stop over in the US on his way back from Canada, citing “prior commitments”.
The May 7-10 military clashes between India and Pakistan figured prominently during the phone conversation that took place as the two leaders could not meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit following the American president’s early departure.
“Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan,” the Foreign Secretary said.
“The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan’s request,” he said, sharing key points of the PM Modi-Trump conversation.
PM Modi told President Trump in clear terms that after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India had conveyed its determination to take action against terrorism to the whole world.
PM Modi told Trump that India had only targeted the terrorist camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, adding India’s actions were very measured, precise, and non-escalatory.
“India had also made it clear that any act of aggression from Pakistan would be met with a stronger response,” the foreign secretary said.
“On the night of May 9, Vice President (JD) Vance had made a phone call to Prime Minister Modi. Vice President Vance had conveyed that Pakistan may launch a major attack on India,” the Foreign Secretary said.
Prime Minister Modi had conveyed to him in clear terms that if such an action were to occur, India would respond with an even stronger response, he said.
“On the night of May 9-10, India gave a strong and decisive response to Pakistan’s attack, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military,” he said on the phone conversation.
“Their military airbases were rendered inoperable. Due to India’s firm action, Pakistan was compelled to request a cessation of military operations,” he said.
Misri said President Trump enquired if PM Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada. “Due to prior commitments, Prime Minister Modi expressed his inability to do so. Both leaders agreed to make efforts to meet in the near future,” he said. (KNO)