India has dismissed claims made in a US court filing by the Trump administration that "trade access" was used as a diplomatic tool to bring about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that no discussion on trade or tariffs took place during the de-escalation talks.

At a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "I refer you to the position made clear on 13th May. From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7 May, the issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of the discussions. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had also clarified that the ceasefire was established directly through DGMOs."

Jaiswal reiterated that the ceasefire request originated from Islamabad, specifically from Pakistan's Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO), who contacted his Indian counterpart. "There was no American intervention during Operation Sindoor," Jaiswal added, further refuting US involvement in the military de-escalation.

US Court Filing Claims Trump Used Tariff Power

These statements follow a filing in the New York-based US Court of International Trade by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. In his statement, Lutnick asserted that then-President Donald Trump used his tariff power to help broker a “tenuous ceasefire” between the two nuclear-armed nations, claiming it helped avert a full-scale war.

“For example, India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers engaged in combat operations just 13 days ago, reached a tenuous ceasefire on May 10, 2025. This ceasefire was only achieved after President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States,” Lutnick stated in the court submission.

US Warns Of Diplomatic Risks

He further warned that any adverse ruling limiting the president’s power to use trade tools like tariffs could threaten regional stability. “It could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump’s offer, threatening the security of an entire region and the lives of millions,” Lutnick said.

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India has rejected these assertions as baseless and inconsistent with the facts on the ground. According to Indian authorities, the ceasefire followed direct military-level communications, not foreign economic incentives.

Operation Sindoor And Military Escalation

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. In response, Pakistan attempted retaliatory strikes on May 8, 9, and 10. Indian forces responded with precision counterattacks on several Pakistani military sites.