US Warned Modi of Major Pakistani Attack on May 9: Jaishankar

WASHINGTON: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has revealed that the United States warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a potential large-scale attack from Pakistan on the night of May 9. According to Indian media reports, the warning came during a call from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who urged India to consider certain conditions to avoid escalation. Jaishankar shared the account during an interview with Newsweek on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in the U.S.

Jaishankar dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that trade negotiations played a key role in calming tensions between India and Pakistan. “It wasn’t Trump,” he said, “I was in the room when Vice President JD Vance warned the Prime Minister about a possible massive assault if we didn’t comply with certain terms. That very night, Pakistan did launch a major attack.”

The remarks contradict Trump’s earlier statement in which he took credit for helping de-escalate conflict in South Asia. Speaking in New Jersey, Trump claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in resolving global conflicts, including the India-Pakistan crisis. “I should have gotten it four or five times,” he said, adding that he was overlooked because “they only give it to liberals.”

Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following recent military engagements. While the U.S. has historically played a behind-the-scenes role in diffusing conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the latest revelation highlights how close the region came to full-scale war, and the key role diplomatic interventions continue to play in maintaining peace.