No third-party mediation on Kashmir, Modi tells Trump

India has never accepted a third-party mediation on Kashmir and will not accept such mediation in the future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told US President Donald Trump.

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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri posted a video on Wednesday saying Modi had a telephonic conversation with Trump that lasted around 35 minutes.

This was first retort from Modi to the repeated claims by Trump of having made an intervention following the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. Trump had claimed to have used trade as a bait to stop the hostilities and offered his services to mediate on Kashmir.

Misri said, “Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that during this entire episode, at no time, at any level, were issues such as India-US trade deal or mediation by the US between India and Pakistan discussed.

"Operation Sindoor was “paused” following a request from Pakistan and not due to mediation or offer of a trade deal by the US," the PM told Trump.

“Modi stressed that 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 said.

Trump understood the points made by the PM and expressed support for India’s fight against terrorism, Misri added.

Modi and Trump spoke hours ahead of Trump meeting Pakistan’s army chief.

Modi briefed Trump on Operation Sindoor, saying India had targeted only terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and its actions were measured, precise and non-escalatory.

A meeting between Modi and Trump was to take place on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Trump had to return to the US early so the meeting could not take place. The phone call happened at the request of Trump, who asked Modi if he could stop by the US on his way back from Canada.

Modi expressed his inability citing prior engagements.

The two also discussed the Israel-Iran conflict. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, both agreed that direct dialogue between the two sides is essential.

Modi invited Trump to visit India for the next QUAD meeting. The US President accepted the invitation.