Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that India ended its military operation against Pakistan on its own terms and set a “new normal” for regional conflict response. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Modi asserted that no global leader asked India to halt its actions, directly contradicting earlier claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Referring to Operation Sandur—the airstrikes India launched on May 7 targeting alleged terror hideouts in Pakistan—Modi said, “We gave our forces full freedom. They acted within 22 minutes. Pakistan issued nuclear threats, but we proved nuclear blackmail won’t work.”
Modi also claimed that on April 22, the U.S. Vice President tried to reach him urgently, warning of a potential large-scale Pakistani retaliation. He insisted he responded with a firm warning that Pakistan would pay if it proceeded.
These comments contrast with repeated statements by Trump, who claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire and averting a potential nuclear conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials had previously echoed this, acknowledging U.S. mediation.
Opposition Response
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi’s speech, stating, “You surrendered to Pakistan within 35 minutes. You’ve shown the world you don’t have the strength to fight.” He challenged Modi to openly deny Trump’s mediation claim, adding, “If you have even half the courage of Indira Gandhi, say it out loud.”
Priyanka Gandhi also questioned Modi’s transparency. “This is the first time in our history that a war was paused and the announcement came from the U.S., not our government,” she said. “The nation wants to know what happened on April 22—and why.”
Military and Diplomatic Fallout
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated that India’s discussions with the U.S. never involved trade deals in exchange for halting operations. He highlighted condemnations from global forums like QUAD and BRICS over the Pahalgam attack that triggered the conflict.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that while Operation Sandur is currently suspended, India reserves the right to restart it if Pakistan supports cross-border terrorism again. “If Pakistan can’t act against terrorism, let India help,” Singh added.
As regional tensions remain high, India maintains that the military set a precedent—any future attacks will be met with immediate and decisive action.
Also See : Former Indian Minister: No Evidence of Pakistan in Pahalgam Attack
