NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — India has firmly distanced itself from President Trump’s claim that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan following the recent military confrontation known as Operation Sindoor, choosing instead to emphasize its sovereign decision-making and military strength.
Trump asserted that his administration played a central role in defusing what he called a potentially “nuclear conflict” between the two South Asian rivals. “We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed, so I’m very proud of that,” Trump said, crediting trade threats and diplomatic pressure for the sudden ceasefire.
Trump claimed he used trade leverage to compel both countries into a truce. “People have never really used trade the way I used it,” he said. “If you stop it, we’ll do trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.”
He also praised former Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, despite Vance having publicly stated just days prior that the conflict was “none of America’s business.”
However, Indian officials have not acknowledged any U.S. role in the cessation of hostilities. According to government sources cited by the Asian News International (ANI), the de-escalation followed a direct military-to-military call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on May 10, initiated by Islamabad after suffering significant losses in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian Army confirmed the call, noting it came from the Pakistani side.
In a national address delivered on May 12, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a resolute tone, stating that India would entertain no talks with Pakistan unless they centered on cross-border terrorism or the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Notably, Modi did not reference Trump or any external mediation efforts.
“Operation Sindoor has redrawn the lines,” Modi said, crediting Indian forces for their precision and resolve. “Our doctrine is clear: provocation will be met with decisive retaliation.”
Trump’s comments have nonetheless ignited political controversy in India. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, demanded clarity from the government. “The nation deserves to know whether India’s strategic autonomy was compromised,” said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. “Did a foreign leader mediate on India’s behalf without our consent?”
The Modi government’s silence on Trump’s claims has only fueled speculation. Analysts suggest that the omission in Modi’s speech was strategic. “This was a speech crafted to emphasize India’s sovereign decision-making,” said former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. “Acknowledging third-party involvement—especially one so publicly touted by Trump—could undercut that narrative.”
Pakistan, for its part, has been more receptive to U.S. involvement. While initially boasting of military success, Islamabad later praised American diplomacy, with officials suggesting that Washington’s engagement played a role in calming tensions.
Despite this, New Delhi remains adamant that the ceasefire resulted from its own calibrated military strategy and backchannel diplomacy, far removed from Trump’s self-congratulatory tone.
With parliamentary opposition pressing for a formal inquiry and debate, the issue of foreign mediation is unlikely to fade soon. But for now, Modi’s administration is keeping the focus squarely on India’s assertive national security posture and its refusal to allow any third party a say in its disputes with Pakistan.
