‘Cannonballs For Bullets': Modi Shuts Down Trump On Terror And Talks
New Delhi: When U.S. President Donald Trump picked up the phone to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he was expecting a friendly, perhaps diplomatic update. What he received instead was a firm reality check from New Delhi.
In a 35-minute call that took place after Trump left the G7 summit early, cancelling a planned bilateral meeting, PM Modi laid out India's new approach – which is zero space for terror, zero tolerance for external interference and no room whatsoever for mediation between India and Pakistan.
Contrary to the popular narrative pushed in Washington about trade leverage and backchannel diplomacy, Modi made it clear that there was no discussion, at any level, about a trade deal with the United States or any American intervention in the aftermath of India's cross-border 'Operation Sindoor'. The military strike had targeted terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Without mincing words, he told the U.S. president that India now treats terrorism not as a 'proxy war' but as an outright act of war and any aggression from across the border will be met with overwhelming force.
'Responding to Bullets With Cannonballs'
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed the media on the call, said Trump listened with 'understanding' as Modi walked him through India's position. The prime minister also declined a casual invitation from Trump to visit Washington on his way back from Canada, citing prior commitments – including a historic visit to Croatia.
Behind that diplomatic refusal lay a larger context – Trump was preparing to host Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House around the same time.
The conversation touched on a critical moment from earlier – May 9, when US Vice President JD Vance called Modi with a warning that Pakistan might be preparing a large-scale strike. Modi had responded decisively. According to Misri, the prime minister told the U.S. vice president that if such a move happened, India would retaliate with 'an even stronger counteraction'.
Within hours, India's air power was unleashed. Pakistani airbases were hit hard and left inoperable. Modi informed Trump that this retaliatory strike forced Pakistan to request a halt to military operations – through direct communication via military channels.
'India Has Never Accepted Mediation'
Misri said PM Modi clearly told President Trump, 'India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it and will never accept it.' That position, he said, is backed by full political consensus in the country.
The prime minister's message was a direct rebuttal to Trump's earlier claims of facilitating a ceasefire or offering to mediate on Kashmir.
Modi reiterated that 'Operation Sindoor' was not aimed at escalation. 'India's actions were highly measured, precise and non-escalatory,' he told Trump.
Every target struck was tied to terror networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). And India's message to the world was unambiguous – this is the new standard.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war. Both agreed that direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are the only way forward, and all global efforts must support that goal.
Trump to Join Quad Summit in India
PM Modi renewed his invitation for Trump to attend the upcoming Quad summit hosted by India. The U.S. president accepted it, expressing enthusiasm for another visit. The two also reaffirmed the Quad's critical role in the Indo-Pacific, signaling a deepening alignment on regional security.
While Trump may have hoped to steer the conversation toward diplomacy and balance, he left with a clear picture of India's evolving doctrine where terror is war, retaliation is policy and mediation is off the table.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Russia warns US against military aid to Israel as Donald Trump snubs Putin's mediation offer
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Wednesday (June 18) warned the United States against offering direct military aid to Israel or even speculating about such actions. In remarks to Interfax, Ryabkov said, 'We caution Washington against even speculative, hypothetical options of this kind. It would be a step that would radically destabilize the entire situation.' He emphasised Russia's active diplomatic engagement, stating, 'We are in contact with both sides. This is happening at the working level and at the political level.' US President Donald Trump revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate between Israel and Iran during a phone call on June 17. Trump said he declined the offer, urging Putin to focus on his own country's war in Ukraine. 'I spoke to him yesterday. He actually offered to mediate,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Do me a favor. Mediate your own. Let's mediate Russia first, OK?'' Trump added that the call also served as a birthday greeting from Putin, who phoned him on June 16—Trump's 79th birthday. However, confusion arose over whether the conversation actually occurred. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the claim, telling TASS: 'He was speaking figuratively. Life is so eventful right now that looking back a few days is like looking back to yesterday.' Trump continues to walk a tightrope between averting war and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, he told reporters: 'I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.' He kept his plans ambiguous: 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do… Nothing is finished until it is finished.' He also hinted at imminent developments: 'The next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week.' Trump claimed the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is hiding: 'He is an easy target, but is safe there. We are not going to take him out—at least not for now.' Iran's UN mission strongly denied Trump's assertion that Iranian officials sought talks with the White House. 'No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to take out Iran's Supreme Leader,' the statement read. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed to lawmakers that the Pentagon is providing Trump with military options as the conflict intensifies. Trump warned Iran's 9.5 million citizens to flee the capital and cut short his G7 trip in Alberta, Canada, to return to Washington for urgent consultations. Despite the tensions, Trump confirmed plans to attend the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25: 'Yeah, I'll be going. I think so.'
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Assembly Bypoll: Kaliganj votes today, parties eye early boost
As the bypoll in the Kaliganj Assembly segment in Nadia district comes less than a year before the elections in West Bengal, both the ruling TMC and the Opposition BJP are leaving no stones unturned to win the seat. With the TMC looking confident to win the minority-dominated seat, the BJP believes that 'Operation Sindoor' made a huge impact among the voters of Bengal and therefore, it will reflect in the counting of votes on June 23. Traditionally, Kaliganj had once been a strong bastion of the Congress. Other than Congress, the Left allies RSP won four times from there in the past. The Congress won from Kaliganj in the 2016 assembly election in alliance with the Left Front. But their winning candidate later joined TMC. In 2021, TMC's Nasiruddin Ahamed won from Kaliganj in 2011 but lost in 2016. He again regained the seat in 2021. After his demise, the seat fell vacant. The TMC has fielded 38-year-old Alifa Ahmed, the daughter of Nasiruddin Ahamed and a BTech graduate who works in a renowned IT company. While the BJP has picked Ashish Ghosh, a local panchayat member and former mandal president. Kabil Uddin Sheikh is the Congress nominee, backed by the Left Front. In last year's Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) candidate S M Sadi got the highest votes in Kaliganj Assembly segment. So, the Congress is expecting a good number of votes. On the other hand, the BJP is expecting the consolidation of Hindu votes, and is banking on the Congress candidate to split the minority votes to sail Ghosh through. 'We fought well in Kaliganj during the panchayat and Lok Sabha elections. In 2016, the Congress won the seat as part of the Left alliance. If we field a joint candidate now, we can defeat both TMC and BJP,' CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said. Kaliganj has a Muslim voter population of around 54 per cent, along with SCs (14.43 per cent) and STs (0.42 per cent). It is predominantly rural, with 90.67 per cent rural and 9.33 per cent urban population, as per the 2011 Census. 'The BJP thrives on dividing communities, but Kaliganj stands united. People here have rejected communal hatred time and again, and they will do so once more,' Alifa Ahmed said. State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, 'The TMC is playing appeasement politics in the name of minority welfare. We want equal development for all without vote bank politics… This election is not about Hindu or Muslim. It's about good governance, something the TMC has failed to deliver.' —WITH PTI Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US reopens visas for foreign students, imposes mandatory social media screening
The US State Department on Wednesday announced that it is restarting student visa applications for foreigners. However, all applicants will now have to give access to their social media accounts for review. The department said consular officers will check for posts or messages that appear hostile toward the United States, its government, culture, institutions, or founding values. Student visa applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts public may now face rejection, the US State Department said in a notice released Wednesday. The department also announced it had lifted the suspension on student visa processing imposed in May. It added that refusing access to social media could be seen as an attempt to hide online behaviour or evade screening. The Trump administration temporarily paused new visa interview appointments for international students last month as it prepared to tighten social media screening, officials said. Students worldwide have been anxiously waiting for US consulates to resume scheduling, with limited time left to arrange travel and housing before the academic year begins. 'Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants,' the department said in a statement. 'To facilitate this vetting,' applicants 'will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to 'public,' the department said. It added, 'The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country.' The State Department has instructed consular officers to screen visa applicants' social media profiles for 'any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.' Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, criticised the move, saying it echoes Cold War-era ideological vetting that excluded artists and intellectuals. 'This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States," Jaffer said.
