Modi Urged to Clarify US Role in Ceasefire

**Congress Urges PM Modi to Address US Claims on India-Pakistan Ceasefire** On Wednesday, the Indian National Congress called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address claims from the Trump administration regarding their role in the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement. Jairam Ramesh, a General Secretary of Congress, questioned whether Prime Minister Modi would confirm or deny reports that US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick filed a statement in the US Court of International Trade in May 2025. The statement allegedly claims that former US President Donald Trump employed his tariff powers to facilitate a "tenuous ceasefire" between India and Pakistan, resulting in a "fragile peace." To date, the Indian government has not responded directly to these claims. It has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct negotiations between India and Pakistan. Ramesh took to social media platform X, questioning the Prime Minister's silence, noting that Luttnick's assertions mirrored those made by Trump, who had repeated such claims multiple times across various platforms. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reportedly echoed these sentiments, hinting at a "neutral site" for peace talks between the two nations. The ceasefire talks followed heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in early May. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which resulted in 26 deaths. This prompted Pakistan to attempt retaliatory strikes on Indian military installations from May 8 to May 10, leading to intense cross-border engagements. An understanding to cease hostilities was reportedly reached on May 10 after days of conflict. On the same day, President Trump asserted that discussions "mediated" by the United States led to India and Pakistan's agreement to a complete and immediate ceasefire. Congress has pressed Prime Minister Modi to clarify these narratives and provide transparency on the actual negotiations that led to the ceasefire, urging him to "Break your silence, Prime Minister."