A Pakistani journalist received a firm response from a US State Department official after raising a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position on de-escalation talks between India and Pakistan.
During a press briefing on May 14, a Pakistani journalist framed former US President Donald Trump as a potential peace mediator in the India-Pakistan conflict, suggesting that Trump’s efforts to broker a ceasefire were embraced by Pakistan but not by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Pakistan welcomed President Trump’s initiative to help establish a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, even believing he could win a Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeded in resolving the Kashmir issue. However, Prime Minister Modi did not appear to welcome this effort…” the journalist stated.
In response to the journalist’s question—“Does Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reluctance to welcome the peace deal disappoint this building?”—Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State, chose to steer clear of the direct criticism.
Instead, Pigott reiterated Washington’s position, saying, “Our focus is on maintaining the ceasefire. That’s what we’re pleased to see. We continue to support efforts to sustain peace and encourage direct communication between the parties involved.”
“Our focus is on the ceasefire,” Pigott stated, emphasising that both India and Pakistan should maintain direct communication and work toward peace.
While former President Trump has consistently claimed that his administration played a role in facilitating the India-Pakistan ceasefire, India has maintained that it was Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who initiated contact with his Indian counterpart to seek a truce, following pressure after Indian military strikes.
Regarding the journalist’s suggestion that Trump deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing India-Pakistan tensions, Pigott referred to Trump as a “peacemaker.”
“He’s a peacemaker. He values peace. He’s also a dealmaker, and he has demonstrated that repeatedly—both in pursuing an America First agenda and in his desire to see peace and the resolution of conflicts,” Pigott remarked.
The journalist also raised the issue of Israel’s drones being used by India during Operation Sindoor, questioning whether that could complicate relations between Pakistan and Israel, especially in the context of Trump’s Abraham Accords, which aimed to strengthen ties among Jews, Muslims, and Christians. However, Pigott quickly redirected the conversation back to the US’s primary focus: maintaining the ceasefire and encouraging direct dialogue between India and Pakistan. He reiterated that Washington’s efforts remain centered on resolving conflicts peacefully.
