PM Modi to JD Vance: 'India Will Respond with Greater Force' in Face of Threats

In a top-level discussion in the background of heightened regional tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have told U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance that India would retaliate with increased military might if Pakistan decided to attack its recent offensive moves.

The important detail was communicated by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday as he gave details about a very important telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and then-President Donald Trump.

It was reported by Misri that Vice President Vance had made a call to PM Modi late in the evening on May 9 to inform him that Pakistan may be preparing a full-fledged counterattack. The warning was issued after India initiated Operation Sindoor, in which nine terror infrastructure targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were targeted.

"Prime Minister Modi informed him categorically that if this occurs, India will retaliate with even stronger force. India's emphatic counterattack on the night of May 9-10 inflicted extensive damage on Pakistan's military. A number of their airbases were made unserviceable," Misri remembered.

After India's forceful counterattack, Pakistan turned to India negotiating a ceasefire, Misri furthered.

He further explained the telephonic talk between PM Modi and President Trump, which took place for 35 minutes and was the first conversation between the leaders after the terror attack in Pahalgam and India's retaliatory military action through Operation Sindoor.

Initially, the two leaders were set to meet in person on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, but it was postponed once President Trump had returned to the U.S. earlier than planned.

The telephone call was initiated at the behest of President Trump," Misri said. The Prime Minister employed the call to detail India's "measured military response" to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 innocent tourists.

Prime Minister Modi said that the ceasefire was decided only on the behest of Pakistan and that India does not desire mediation. He categorically asserted that there was no discussion at any stage of this incident of India-US trade negotiations or third-party mediation," Misri underlined.

He also added that any consideration for a ceasefire was discussed through designated military communication channels between Pakistan and India.

Supporting India's diplomatic position, Misri said, "Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India has never believed in mediation, does not believe in it, and will never believe in it. There is political consensus in India on this matter."

Misri also asserted that President Trump had appreciated the understanding of India's stand and expressed his support for India's position against terrorism.

PM Modi is said to have told Trump, during the discussion, that any future terrorist attack linked back to Pakistan would be dealt with by India as an act of war. He also assured that Operation Sindoor was ongoing.