India has once again denied any link between US tariffs and the May 10 ceasefire with Pakistan following nearly 100 hours of military conflict that included missile and drone attacks from Pakistan and air strikes by India.
At a press briefing on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that “from the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation”. The issue of trade or tariff “did not come up in any of those discussions,” he said.
Jaiswal’s statement was in response to claims made in a New York court by the US government that President ’s tariffs helped bring about the ceasefire. India confirmed talks with the US during the period but said trade discussions were not part of those exchanges.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and State Secretary Marco Rubio told the court that Trump had used the threat of tariffs to resolve global conflicts. They claimed the promise of increased to a ceasefire. “ An adverse ruling that constrains presidential power in this case could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump’s offer, threatening the security of an entire region and the lives of millions,” Lutnick argued.
The court on Wednesday rejected this argument and blocked Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.
India has earlier issued of brokering the ceasefire or mediating on Kashmir. Reiterating the same, Jaiswal on Thursday said: “External Affairs Minister has also made clear that the cessation of firing was decided upon through direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.”
“As our bilateral dialogue, relations, or engagement with Pakistan is concerned, our position and approach have been very clear. It has been consistent. As we have said earlier too, any such bilateral engagement between the two countries will only be strictly bilateral — meaning, solely between India and Pakistan,” he added while answering if there is any change in New ’s approach for dialogue with Islamabad.
Jaishankar last week, in a conversation with Dutch daily De Volkskrant ruled out any scope for international mediation in the conflict, against Trump’s claims of having brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
“When two countries are engaged in a conflict, it is natural that countries in the world call up and try to sort of indicate their concern. But the cessation of firing and military action was something, which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan… We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the US but to everybody, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their General has to call up our General and say this. And that is what happened.”
Since May 10, when he announced the “ceasefire”, the US President has claimed on several occassions that he “mediated” the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the threat of cutting off trade forced the countries to stop the hostilities. India, however, has repeatedly denied any such involvement by Washington.
Meanwhile, Washington and New Delhi are still working on a bilateral trade deal that could raise trade volumes to over $500 billion by 2030. India has asked for exemption from the 26 per cent tariff imposed by Trump on Indian goods, which has been paused until July 9. The 10 per cent baseline tariff remains in place.
Jaishankar said earlier this month: “Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries. That would be our expectation… Until then judgement will be premature.”
