“PoK Must Return to India, No Room for Mediation”: PM Modi’s Stern Message to US VP

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th May:  In a firm and unequivocal message to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US Vice President JD Vance that if Pakistan takes any provocative action, India’s response would be “more devastating and strong,” The New York Times has reported, citing diplomatic sources.

During his conversation with Vance, PM Modi underlined India’s longstanding stance on Kashmir, asserting that the “only issue left” is the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India. He also made it clear that New Delhi does not seek or accept third-party mediation on matters between India and Pakistan.

The Prime Minister reportedly reiterated that Operation Sindoor is still underway, stating, “We are in the new normal. The world has to accept this. Pakistan has to accept this. It cannot be business as usual.”

The remarks come against the backdrop of renewed hostilities on the border. According to the NYT report, Pakistan launched attacks on 26 Indian sites in a single night, to which India retaliated with a powerful military response. Sources confirmed that PM Modi had issued “clear directions” for India’s counteroffensive to be “bigger, stronger, and heavier.”

On Saturday, tensions escalated further when a request for a hotline conversation was made by Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) at 1 PM. Due to prior commitments, the Indian DGMO could not respond immediately, and the call was eventually held at 3:35 PM. Officials indicated that discussions on halting cross-border firing took place at the DGMO level.

A day later, on Sunday, PM Modi convened a high-level meeting to assess the situation. Attendees included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs.

The Indian government has accused Pakistan of violating the informal ceasefire understanding reached on Saturday night and has demanded that Islamabad take “appropriate steps” to ensure peace and stability, urging it to deal with the situation with “seriousness and responsibility.”