India on Thursday firmly refuted US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently assured him of stopping Russian oil purchases. Addressing the media at the Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “I’m not aware of any conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump yesterday,” directly countering Trump’s assertion.
The US president had earlier told reporters at the Oval Office that Modi had promised to cease importing oil from Russia, describing it as a “big stop.” Trump expressed disappointment over India’s continued purchase of Russian crude amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and said the Indian leader had given assurances to reconsider the matter.
India’s Response and Position
Jaiswal reiterated that there had been no such communication between the two leaders and declined to speculate on Trump’s remarks. He used the briefing to underline that India’s oil import strategy remains guided by its national interests and energy security requirements.
Remarks on Pakistan-Afghanistan Situation
The MEA spokesperson also addressed the latest border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing three key points: Pakistan’s continued support for terrorist networks, its habit of blaming neighboring countries for internal issues, and its frustration with Afghanistan asserting control over its sovereign territory.
Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s consistent backing for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. He added that India’s Technical Mission, which has been operational in Kabul since June 2022, is expected to be upgraded into a full-fledged embassy in the coming days.
When asked about a possible meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Jaiswal said, “Let us await the announcement regarding our participation in the ASEAN summit.”
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