A political storm is brewing in New Delhi after US President Donald Trump surprised the world by announcing a ceasefire between India and Pakistan before any statement came from the Indian government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the ceasefire, Operation Sindoor, and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
In his letter, Gandhi emphasized the importance of transparency and collective responsibility in matters of national security. “Dear Prime Minister, I reiterate the unanimous request of the Opposition to convene a special session of Parliament immediately. It is crucial for the people and their representatives to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and today’s ceasefire, first announced by US President Trump,” he wrote, adding that such a session would demonstrate India’s resolve in the face of terrorism and conflict.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also supported the call for a special session. Writing as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge reminded the Prime Minister that similar requests had been made following the Pahalgam attack. He pointed out that the ceasefire was first disclosed by Washington, not New Delhi or Islamabad, and noted the absence of clarity from the Indian leadership.
The Modi government had previously convened all-party meetings after the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military operations under Operation Sindoor, including airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. However, the Prime Minister did not attend these meetings, which drew criticism from the Opposition even though they expressed full support for retaliatory measures against terrorism.
The ceasefire announcement came late Saturday night when President Trump posted on Truth Social: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
Shortly after, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the agreement, crediting himself and Vice President JD Vance with helping broker the deal. About thirty minutes later, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri issued a short statement saying that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both countries agreed to halt all land, air, and sea military actions effective 5:00 PM IST on Saturday. A follow-up conversation between the DGMOs is scheduled for May 12.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar maintained that India’s commitment to fighting terrorism remains “firm and uncompromising,” but Prime Minister Modi has yet to comment publicly on the ceasefire or Trump’s involvement. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, however, was quick to thank the US for its mediation in public statements.
Of note is that none of the Indian official communications acknowledged the US role or revealed any conditions tied to the ceasefire agreement. Adding another layer to the diplomatic drama, President Trump offered to mediate the Kashmir issue, a proposition India has long opposed, citing its firm stance that Kashmir is an integral part of the country and not open to third-party intervention. The Indian government has yet to respond to Trump’s proposal.