On Tuesday, the Indian government refuted President Donald Trump’s assertion that a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between India and Pakistan was partly due to potential trade concessions. At a weekly news conference, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman for India’s foreign ministry, clarified that discussions between high-ranking officials from India and the U.S. did not involve trade issues. He referenced conversations last week, including exchanges between Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizing that trade was not a topic of discussion.
Following an agreement on Saturday to halt military actions between the two nations, Trump claimed his offer to assist with trade was influential in prompting the ceasefire. He stated, “If you stop it, we’ll do a trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade,” suggesting that trade leverage played a crucial role in de-escalating tensions.
The military standoff had escalated dramatically, with India conducting strikes in Pakistan in response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir, which both countries claim. Heavy exchanges of fire and missile strikes ensued, raising alarms over regional stability.
While Trump also mentioned he could mediate the long-standing Kashmir dispute, India maintained its position that such issues should only be addressed bilaterally. Jaiswal reiterated this stance, stating there was no change in India’s policy towards Kashmir.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the expulsion of an Indian diplomat, accusing him of inappropriate activities, mirroring recent diplomatic tensions where both nations had reduced each other’s diplomatic presence amid ongoing allegations of espionage.
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