US revives Trump’s Kashmir mediation claim despite India’s rejection
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Washington: Despite Congress’ insistence that the BJP government clarify Trump’s claim about brokering a ceasefire, Trump himself maintains that it was his intervention that prevented a war between India and Pakistan.
In a fresh development, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce reignited controversy on Tuesday by suggesting that it would not be surprising if US President Donald Trump attempted to mediate the Kashmir dispute, despite India’s longstanding and repeated rejection of third-party involvement in the matter.
Responding to a reporter’s question at her regular briefing, which referenced Trump’s past offer to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, Bruce said, “Obviously, I can’t speak to what’s on the mind or the plans of the president.” However, she added, “What I do know is that I think we all recognise that President Trump in each step that he takes, it’s made to solve generational differences between countries, generational war. So, it doesn’t – it shouldn’t — surprise anyone that he’d want to manage something like that.”
India, meanwhile, reiterated its firm position through External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who stated, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”
India’s position is rooted in the 1972 Tashkent Agreement, which commits both nations to resolve disputes bilaterally without external interference.
Tammy Bruce further said the United States reaffirmed its “strong support of India in the fight against terrorism, and strategic partnership between those two countries,” citing the recent meeting between an Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor and US Deputy Secretary Kurt Landau.
She also heaped praise on Trump’s diplomatic approach, saying, “He seems very much to be – and not just seems but he is – has been the only one to bring certain people to the table to have conversations that nobody thought was possible.” While she declined to confirm any specific plans regarding Kashmir, she said, “The world knows his nature... I can’t speak to any details of what he might have in that regard. You can call the White House. I have a feeling they would have plenty to say.”
Bruce also reiterated a claim previously made by Trump and others — that the US helped bring about a ceasefire during last month’s four-day conflict between India and Pakistan. “It is an exciting time that if we can get to a point in that particular conflict -[between India and Pakistan], thank God but also thank Secretary -[of State Marco] Rubio and President Trump and the Vice President -[JD Vance],” she said.
This claim has been categorically rejected by Indian officials. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified before a Parliamentary Committee that the ceasefire decision was made bilaterally between India and Pakistan, without any external mediation. He said Trump’s assertion of US intervention was inaccurate and unfounded.
Backing this position, Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that it was India’s decisive military action — not foreign diplomacy — that led to the cessation of hostilities. “Let me be clear, it was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing,” he said.
He explained that on the morning of May 10, Indian forces launched a highly effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases under Operation Sindoor, which forced Islamabad to request a ceasefire. “You will of course appreciate that early on -[May] 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action,” Jaiswal said.
When asked whether Pakistan had given any assurance to act against terrorists during its delegation’s recent meeting with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, Bruce declined to provide details, stating, “I am not going to discuss the details of those conversations.”
With IANS inputs
