India has once again made it clear that there is no connection between US tariffs and the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The Indian government has reiterated that trade or tariff discussions were not part of the talks that led to the ceasefire on May 10, following nearly 100 hours of military conflict between the two countries.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a press briefing that conversations between Indian and US leaders during the military conflict did not involve trade or tariffs. He emphasized that the focus was solely on the evolving military situation between India and Pakistan.
The US government had claimed in a New York court that President Donald Trump’s tariffs played a role in bringing about the ceasefire. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and State Secretary Marco Rubio argued that the threat of tariffs had helped resolve global conflicts and encouraged India and Pakistan to agree to the ceasefire. However, the court rejected this argument and blocked Trump’s proposed ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.
India has maintained that the talks with the US during Operation Sindoor were limited to military discussions and did not involve trade negotiations. The Indian government’s stance underscores the importance of resolving conflicts through diplomatic channels and military de-escalation rather than through economic pressure tactics.
