The latest developments following Operation Sindoor underscore the intensifying geopolitical stakes in the India-Pakistan conflict, while also revealing a complex layer of diplomatic messaging between New Delhi and Washington — particularly in response to former US President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire.
Key Highlights:
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No Trade Discussion with US:
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Indian government sources confirmed that no discussions on trade took place during recent high-level talks between:
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PM Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance (May 9)
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EAM S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (May 10)
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This directly contradicts Donald Trump's assertion that trade ties with both India and Pakistan were linked to de-escalation.
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India made it clear that the talks were focused on security and strategic concerns, not economic negotiations.
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Trump’s Ceasefire Claim:
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Trump claimed credit for stopping a "potential nuclear war", stating that his administration secured a "full and immediate ceasefire".
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India, however, avoided using the term "ceasefire", instead describing the outcome as an understanding between the two countries, arranged directly through military channels, not mediated by the US.
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Military De-escalation Timeline:
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Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
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India conducted precision airstrikes on terror camps in PoK and Pakistan, triggering retaliatory Pakistani attempts to strike Indian military positions on May 8–10.
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A formal DGMO-level communication on May 13 led to an agreement to cease hostilities from 5 PM that day.
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According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the agreement includes:
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No further military action by land, air, or sea
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No use of small arms or heavy artillery
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Troop reductions along forward positions
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First full night of no violations was reported on May 12, marking a pause after 19 consecutive days of conflict escalation.
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US-India-Pakistan Trade Context:
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The US is India’s largest trading partner, with $129.2 billion in bilateral trade (2024).
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With Pakistan, US trade stands at just $7.3 billion — significantly lower, making India the more critical partner economically.
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Trump's claim that the US would withhold trade from both nations unless they de-escalated appears more rhetorical than grounded in current policy. It also contradicts actual diplomatic channels, where no such threat or linkage was made.
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Strategic Implications:
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India has maintained its autonomy in both military and diplomatic responses, asserting that de-escalation was achieved without foreign mediation.
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Trump’s interventionist tone may play well in a US domestic political context, but finds little reflection in the official communication between India and the US.
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The Modi government has recalibrated its approach, combining military assertiveness with measured diplomatic messaging — highlighting that Pakistan’s nuclear posture will no longer limit India’s right to respond.
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The apparent decoupling of trade and conflict diplomacy reaffirms India’s stand that national security actions are sovereign decisions, not leverage points for unrelated negotiations.
In essence, New Delhi has drawn a firm boundary: while it values the US partnership, it rejects the idea that its strategic choices — especially regarding Pakistan — are negotiable, whether for trade or diplomatic optics.
