The Centre on Thursday, May 29, reaffirmed that the ceasefire understanding reached with Pakistan on May 10, following Operation Sindoor, had no connection to any trade discussions with the United States.
The clarification came in response to a legal submission by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who claimed that the ceasefire was secured after US President Donald Trump offered trade access to both India and Pakistan to prevent escalation. The submission, dated May 23, was part of a court case involving US business owners challenging Trump’s tariff policies.
Lutnick stated in the filing: “President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States to avert a full-scale war.”
During a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claim, stating that India’s stance on the matter has been “clearly articulated.”
“Between May 7, when Operation Sindoor was launched, and May 10, when the ceasefire was agreed upon, Indian and US leaders did engage in conversations about the evolving military situation,” Jaiswal said. “However, trade and tariff issues were never part of those discussions.”
He further emphasized that the ceasefire was decided through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, not influenced by external offers.
