External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, clarifying that there were no direct phone calls between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 17. This statement was made during a debate on Operation Sindoor in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Jaishankar's remarks came in response to questions surrounding India's diplomatic strategy following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. He emphasized that India's diplomatic messaging to the world has remained firm, with a zero-tolerance policy for terrorism and the right to self-defense.

The Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of five soldiers earlier this month, heightened tensions and prompted India to undertake retaliatory strikes against Pakistan. Following these strikes, India received calls indicating Pakistan's willingness to halt further aggression. However, India made it clear that any such request must come formally from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

Jaishankar highlighted the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement issued on April 25, which condemned the terrorist attack in the strongest terms. The UNSC reaffirmed that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Crucially, the UNSC statement underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

During the Lok Sabha debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticized the opposition, accusing them of lacking faith in India's External Affairs Minister while trusting foreign nations. Shah asserted that the opposition's lack of faith in their own foreign minister is the reason they are sitting in the opposition benches and will continue to do so for the next 20 years.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also addressed Parliament regarding Operation Sindoor, stating that India's military strikes were completed within 22 minutes on May 7. He clarified that the operation is "paused" rather than concluded, as the armed forces achieved their politico-military objectives without external pressure. Singh assured Parliament that if Pakistan engages in further aggression, operations will resume.

Jaishankar also addressed claims regarding a potential link between trade and the India-Pakistan ceasefire. He stated that there was no communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump from April 22 to June 17, except for specific instances where Trump conveyed sympathy or explained his inability to meet. He emphasized that at no stage in any conversation with the United States was there any linkage with trade and what was going on. India maintains that the cessation of hostilities on May 10 resulted from direct DGMO communication, initiated by the Pakistani side.