No Trade Talk: India Denies Trump’s Claims of Using Trade Leverage in India-Pakistan Conflict
No Trade Talk: India Denies Trump’s Claims of Using Trade Leverage in India-Pakistan Conflict
New Delhi is pushing back against former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he used trade as leverage to broker peace between India and Pakistan during heightened tensions.
According to government sources, discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance made no mention of trade relations. A source told news agency PTI, “After Operation Sindoor commenced, Vice President Vance spoke to the Prime Minister on May 9. Secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke to external affairs minister S Jaishankar on May 8 and May 10 and to NSA Ajit Doval on May 10. There was no reference to trade in any of these discussions.”
Congress Raises Questions, Demands Answers
This denial comes after Congress questioned PM Modi about Trump’s claim, specifically asking if the operation against Pakistan was halted due to trade obligations and if the Indian government had accepted American mediation on Kashmir.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), challenged the Prime Minister and his supporters to address these concerns. He questioned whether India had agreed to US mediation, a neutral site for dialogue with Pakistan, or if India would concede to US demands for opening its markets in sectors like autos and agriculture.
Ramesh acknowledged the sacrifices of the armed forces but stressed the need for transparent answers from the Prime Minister regarding his government’s actions during the crisis.
Trump’s Trade Threat
Trump, speaking on Monday, claimed he threatened both India and Pakistan with trade repercussions if they didn’t cease hostilities. He stated, “I said. Come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it, let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.” He further asserted that his use of trade leverage was unprecedented and ultimately led to a cessation of military operations.
Ceasefire in Place
India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Saturday following heightened cross-border tensions. This agreement, a result of direct engagement between officials, came after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The ceasefire was implemented with no preconditions, postconditions, or links to other issues.
