Congress questions Modi's silence as Trump claims credit for India Pakistan ceasefire

The Congress party has escalated its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his continued silence on repeated claims by former United States President Donald Trump, who has stated on several occasions that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a recent military standoff.

On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to ask pointedly, when will the Prime Minister respond?

Trump, over the course of just 21 days, has now made at least 11 public statements across three countries claiming that he had personally intervened to end a four-day armed conflict between India and Pakistan. He has even gone so far as to credit trade pressure and diplomacy as tools he used to prevent a potential nuclear escalation between the neighbours.

Jairam Ramesh, who has been vocal on the matter, posted a video clip of Donald Trump repeating the claim and expressed serious concern that Prime Minister Modi has yet to either confirm or deny the former US President’s assertions. Ramesh referred to Trump as Donaldbhai in his posts — a sarcastic take that highlights the supposed closeness between Modi and Trump.

According to Ramesh, this is not the first time Trump or his team have made such declarations. He noted that on May 23, 2025, Trump’s Commerce Secretary submitted similar claims in the New York-based Court of International Trade during an ongoing case, further indicating that these are not offhand remarks, but formal positions being taken by the former US administration.

What did Trump claim?

Trump has allegedly stated that during the recent India-Pakistan military tension, he had stepped in with strong trade and diplomatic tools to de-escalate the situation. According to his version of events, this included using the threat of economic sanctions and direct negotiations to get both sides to stand down.

While no official confirmation or denial has come from the Modi government, Trump's narrative suggests that India’s sovereignty was undermined by third-party involvement — something that goes directly against India’s long-standing foreign policy stance that all matters with Pakistan, including conflict resolution, will be dealt with bilaterally and without any third-party mediation.

Congress accuses Modi of dodging the issue

The Congress party believes that Modi’s refusal to respond is tantamount to implicit acceptance or, at the very least, diplomatic negligence. By staying silent, they argue, Modi allows Trump's statements to stand unchallenged on the global stage, which could undermine India's position and create dangerous diplomatic precedents.

Ramesh questioned whether Trump is simply fabricating stories, as he has been accused of doing in the past, or if there is some truth to what he says. He asked bluntly if Trump is telling even 50 percent of the truth, then shouldn't the Indian public have clarity on it?

India’s official stance and the issue of equivalence

One of the most critical aspects of the controversy is Trump’s portrayal of India and Pakistan as equals in the conflict — a stance that India has historically rejected. Congress has pointed out that Trump’s repeated 'hyphenation' of India and Pakistan undermines India’s claim of being a responsible and restrained regional power, especially in matters of national security.

Congress also criticised the Modi government for failing to protest or issue a diplomatic rebuttal against Trump’s version of events, especially when these remarks have been made not just in speeches but also as part of legal declarations in the US.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), meanwhile, has reiterated its standard position in past press briefings — that India does not accept third-party mediation, particularly in matters concerning Pakistan. However, it has not directly addressed Trump's specific claims, nor has the Prime Minister made any public statement.

Broader implications for Indian diplomacy

This episode has exposed what Congress claims is a chink in the armour of Modi’s foreign policy image. Modi, who has often been credited for strong international relations, especially with the US, is now being accused of allowing unauthorised narratives to flourish without correction. The lack of rebuttal gives Trump's version of events unintended credibility, the opposition alleges.

The silence is especially striking given how vocal the Modi government has been on other issues involving foreign relations. The Congress has raised concerns that the Prime Minister may be prioritising personal friendships over India’s diplomatic standing, referring sarcastically to the repeated use of Donaldbhai in their statements.

Conclusion

The ongoing row over Trump’s ceasefire claims has added a new dimension to India’s political landscape, where foreign policy is now at the centre of domestic debate. As pressure mounts, both from within India and globally, there is growing anticipation over whether the Prime Minister will finally break his silence and set the record straight on India’s handling of its recent tensions with Pakistan — and the alleged role played by Donald Trump.

Until then, questions remain unanswered, and the opposition continues to push for a formal statement or clarification, arguing that the nation has the right to know the truth behind what really happened in the most recent episode of India-Pakistan hostilities.