NEW DELHI – India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on July 28 that the military conflict with Pakistan in May concluded solely because New Delhi had achieved all its strategic objectives, dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he brokered the ceasefire. Speaking in Parliament during a debate on the April 22 attack on Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead, Singh emphasised that India’s actions were dictated by its own goals, not external pressure.
“India halted its operation because all the political and military objectives studied before and during the conflict had been fully achieved,” Singh told lawmakers. “To suggest that the operation was called off under pressure is baseless and entirely incorrect.”
His comments followed claims from Trump that U.S. diplomacy had helped end the four-day clash, which marked the most intense fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours in nearly 30 years. During the conflict, both sides exchanged heavy firepower including fighter jets, drones, and missiles, resulting in numerous casualties.
India’s position was further reinforced on July 28 when its army reported killing three suspected militants in Kashmir. Local media said they may have been involved in the April attack, although Reuters could not independently confirm this. The April assault, the worst on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based operatives. Islamabad has denied any role in the killings and has called for an independent investigation.
While Pakistan publicly thanked Trump for what it called successful mediation, India has maintained that the ceasefire agreement was negotiated bilaterally with Islamabad, with no American involvement.
The opposition in India has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, alleging intelligence failures leading up to the Kashmir attack and demanding answers about the assailants. Critics have also raised questions about the government’s handling of the conflict, particularly reports that Indian aircraft were downed during combat.
Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian planes. India’s top military general acknowledged initial losses but declined to provide details.
Kashmir remains the flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations. Both countries claim the region in full but govern it in parts and have fought two of their three wars over it. While India accuses Pakistan of arming and aiding separatist militants, Pakistan insists its support for Kashmiris is limited to moral and diplomatic backing for their right to self-determination.