Operation Sindoor debate: Jaishankar asserts India received global support; rejects Trump ceasefire claim

External Affairs Minster S Jaishankar on Monday defended the government in Lok Sabha during the Operation Sindoor debate, asserting that many international countries, including China, Iran and Russia, condemned the Pahalgam attack. He was responding to Opposition MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant’s claim that no country stood with India during the conflict with Pakistan.

Jaishankar began his speech by stating the diplomatic actions India took against Pakistan a day after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were brutally gunned down by terrorists.

Advertisement

He mentioned the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cancellation of visa to Pakistani nationals, Islamabad High Commission diplomats declared persona non grata, and closure of the Attari border, among others.

The minister also explained the need to shape the global understanding of the Pahalgam attack, saying, “It was very clear that, after the first set of steps approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, India’s response to the Pahalgam attack would not stop there. Our task from a diplomatic perspective, from a foreign policy approach, was to shape the global understanding of the Pahalgam attack.”

He further stated that India did receive international support following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, with China, Iran, and Russia, along with several other countries, condemning the barbaric attack on innocent tourists.

“If India is attacked, and a country says we condemn cross-border terrorism, it is clear what they mean,” Jaishankar said.

Responding to one of the key questions being raised by the Opposition – US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire claims – Jaishankar clarified that PM Modi received a phone call from US Vice President JD Vance on May 9 wherein the PM made it clear that India will respond if an attack happens.

“India foiled that massive attack. Our response was delivered,” he said, reiterating that “There was no phone call between PM Modi and (Donald) Trump in this period.”

However, the minister didn’t elaborate on the circumstances under which the US President made the sudden ceasefire announcement on May 10. Trump, in a post on social media, declared that India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by his administration.

Within hours of his announcement, both India and Pakistan confirmed the same. While Pakistan thanked the US president for brokering peace between the warring neighbours, India didn’t officially recognize his efforts and maintained the cessation of firing was negotiated directly between the DGMOs of Indian and Pakistani forces.

During the speech, Opposition leaders tried to interrupt the minister, prompting a scathing response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Slamming the Opposition MPs, Shah said, “I have an objection that they (Opposition) don’t have faith in an Indian Foreign Minister but they have faith in some other country.”

Taking a jibe at the Congress party, he further added: “I can understand the importance of foreign in their party. But this doesn’t mean that all the things of their party should be imposed here in the House. This is the reason why they are sitting there (opposition benches), and will remain sitting there for the next 20 years.”

He began his speech by stating the diplomatic actions India took against Pakistan a day after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were brutally gunned down by terrorists.

He mentioned the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cancellation of visa to Pakistani nationals, Islamabad High Commission diplomats declared persona non grata, and closure of the Attari border, among others.

The minister also explained the need to shape the global understanding of the Pahalgam attack, saying, “It was very clear that, after the first set of steps approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, India’s response to the Pahalgam attack would not stop there. Our task from a diplomatic perspective, from a foreign policy approach, was to shape the global understanding of the Pahalgam attack.”

He further stated that India did receive international support following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam with China, Iran and Russia along with several other countries condemning the barbaric attack on innocent tourists.

“If India is attacked, and a country says we condemn cross-border terrorism, it is clear what they mean,” Jaishankar said.

Responding to one of the key questions being raised by the Opposition – US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire claims – Jaishankar clarified that PM Modi received a phone call from US Vice President JD Vance on May 9 wherein, the PM made it clear that India will respond if an attack happens.

“India foiled that massive attack. Our response was delivered,” he said, reiterating that “There was no phone call between PM Modi and (Donald) Trump in this period.”

However, the minister didn’t elaborate on the circumstances under which the US President made the sudden ceasefire announcement on May 10. Trump, in a post on social media, declared that India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by his administration.

Within hours of his announcement, both India and Pakistan confirmed the same. While Pakistan thanked the US president for brokering peace between the warring neighbours, India didn’t officially recognize his efforts and maintained the cessation of firing was negotiated directly between the DGMOs of Indian and Pakistani forces.

During the speech, Opposition leaders tried to interrupt the minister, prompting a scathing response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Slamming the Opposition MPs, Shah said, “I have an objection that they (Opposition) don’t have faith in an Indian Foreign Minister but they have faith in some other country.”

Taking a jibe at the Congress party, he further added: “I can understand the importance of foreign in their party. But this doesn’t mean that all the things of their party should be imposed here in the House. This is the reason why they are sitting there (opposition benches), and will remain sitting there for the next 20 years.”