New Delhi, May 14 — The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Modi government on Wednesday following former US President Donald Trump’s fresh claim that his administration brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The party questioned whether India’s security interests were compromised under American pressure.
Speaking at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia, Trump reiterated that his administration had "successfully brokered a historic ceasefire" to halt escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. He further claimed to have used trade incentives to influence the agreement.
Congress Slams Modi and Jaishankar
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for their silence on Trump’s remarks.“A few days ago, we learnt of the ceasefire with Pakistan from the President of the United States. At a public event in Saudi Arabia, he reveals he may have coerced and blackmailed India into this ceasefire using the carrot-and-stick of sanctions and trade deals,” Ramesh said on social platform X.
He questioned whether Modi and Jaishankar had “mortgaged” India’s national security under US pressure, adding sarcastically, “Ameriki papa ne war rukwa di kya?”
Congress Recalls BJP’s Old Campaign
The Congress also took a dig at a BJP campaign ad from the previous year, which had shown Prime Minister Modi as a peacemaker who stopped the Russia-Ukraine war to bring back Indian students. “War rukwa di papa,” the fictional student in the ad said, which Congress now referenced to ridicule Trump’s claim.Pawan Khera Calls Out Comparison
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also criticised Trump’s remarks for equating Modi with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.“US president says again: 'I used trade to make a deal between them, and they agreed’. Not only is Donald Trump hyphenating India with Pakistan, he is comparing Prime Minister Modi with Shehbaz Sharif,” Khera said, sharing a clip of Trump’s remarks.
He asked whether such a comparison was acceptable to the Prime Minister’s Office.
India Denies Third-Party Involvement
Trump's comments contrast with India's official position. Government sources in New Delhi reiterated that the May 10 ceasefire agreement came after mutual understanding between India and Pakistan's Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs). They maintained that no third party was involved.India continues to assert that the Kashmir issue is strictly bilateral and that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, are inalienable and integral parts of the country.
Trump’s Ceasefire Narrative
In Riyadh, Trump said, “Just days ago, my administration brokered a historic ceasefire... I used trade to a large extent to do it.” He described both Modi and Sharif as “powerful and smart leaders” and claimed the talks averted a possible nuclear conflict.Trump had made similar statements a day earlier, claiming to have halted a "nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan through late-night negotiations mediated by the United States.
The Modi government has not responded publicly to Trump’s latest remarks.
