India Rejects Trump’s Claim on India-Pak Ceasefire, Says Trade Was Never Discussed

The Indian government on Monday firmly dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s claim that he played a role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in exchange for trade deals. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the issue of trade “did not come up” at any point during discussions with the United States amid the recent military standoff with Pakistan.

Responding to Trump’s comments, the MEA clarified that while leaders from both countries were in contact between May 7 and May 10 — the period of heightened tension during India’s Operation Sindoor — there was no conversation involving trade concessions.

“In that timeframe, Indian and US leaders were in touch about the evolving situation, but the subject of trade was not discussed,” the ministry said in an official statement.

Trump, speaking at a public event, had claimed that his administration helped prevent what could have turned into a nuclear war between the two South Asian nations. He said that India and Pakistan were pressured into agreeing to a “full and immediate ceasefire” with the implied threat that they’d lose access to US trade if they didn’t comply.

India, however, has strongly pushed back against that version of events. The MEA explained that the ceasefire understanding was not the result of any third-party pressure but came after India launched a powerful airstrike on key Pakistani Air Force bases early on May 10.

“That strike was a turning point,” a senior Indian official noted. “It was the strength of India’s military response that forced Pakistan to seek a halt to further action.”

The MEA added that the formal ceasefire understanding was worked out directly between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. The Pakistani side had reached out through their High Commission in Delhi at 12:37 p.m. on May 10 requesting a phone call. After some technical delays, the call between the two DGMOs finally took place at 3:35 p.m., during which the ceasefire arrangement was finalized.

When asked about the involvement of foreign powers, the ministry was clear: India’s position remained consistent both in public and in private. “Our message to other countries was straightforward — India was targeting terrorist infrastructure in response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam. We had made it clear that if the Pakistani military opened fire, we would respond; if they stopped, we would too.”

The MEA acknowledged that while many foreign leaders were informed of India’s stance, their role was limited to relaying messages — not mediating terms. “It’s only natural that those who heard this from us shared it with their Pakistani counterparts,” the ministry noted.

In essence, India has made it clear that the ceasefire was a result of its own military leverage — not foreign pressure or backroom trade negotiations.