The Congress party on Wednesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the Trump administration's persistent claims regarding its role in brokering the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire.
"The Prime Minister should let the country know whether it is true that the US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick filed a statement in the New York-based US Court of International Trade on May 23rd, 2025 swearing that President Trump used his tariff power to broker a 'tenuous ceasefire' between India and Pakistan and bring about a 'fragile peace'?" Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The government has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan.
"Mr. Luttnick follows in the footsteps of President Trump himself who made this assertion 8 times in 11 days in 3 different countries. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed the same and also mentioned a 'neutral site' for talks between India and Pakistan," he wrote, concluding with " Pradhan Mantri Chuppi Todo (Break your silence, Prime Minister)."
The controversy stems from recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22, Army launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor on May 7. Pakistan retaliated with attempted attacks on Indian military bases over the next three days, leading to counterattacks on Pakistani military installations.
The military confrontation ended on May 10 when both nations reached an understanding. However, US President Donald Trump claimed that same day that India and Pakistan had agreed to "a full and immediate ceasefire" following lengthy negotiations "mediated" by Washington.
The US President has since repeatedly asserted his role in helping resolve the tensions between the two South Asian nations, despite India's position that the ceasefire was achieved through bilateral talks.
"The Prime Minister should let the country know whether it is true that the US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick filed a statement in the New York-based US Court of International Trade on May 23rd, 2025 swearing that President Trump used his tariff power to broker a 'tenuous ceasefire' between India and Pakistan and bring about a 'fragile peace'?" Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister should let the country know whether it is true that the US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick filed a statement in the NewYork-based US Court of International Trade on May 23rd, 2025 swearing that President Trump used his tariff power to broker a ' tenuous…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 28, 2025
The government has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan.
"Mr. Luttnick follows in the footsteps of President Trump himself who made this assertion 8 times in 11 days in 3 different countries. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed the same and also mentioned a 'neutral site' for talks between India and Pakistan," he wrote, concluding with " Pradhan Mantri Chuppi Todo (Break your silence, Prime Minister)."
The controversy stems from recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22, Army launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor on May 7. Pakistan retaliated with attempted attacks on Indian military bases over the next three days, leading to counterattacks on Pakistani military installations.
The military confrontation ended on May 10 when both nations reached an understanding. However, US President Donald Trump claimed that same day that India and Pakistan had agreed to "a full and immediate ceasefire" following lengthy negotiations "mediated" by Washington.
The US President has since repeatedly asserted his role in helping resolve the tensions between the two South Asian nations, despite India's position that the ceasefire was achieved through bilateral talks.
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