What PM Modi told US vice president JD Vance during May 9 phone call

NEW DELHI: On May 9, when US Vice President JD Vance called up PM Narendra Modi to talk about a serious escalation from Pakistan, Modi made it clear that India’s reaction would be “way stronger, more powerful, and far more destructive” than anything Pakistan had done, according to sources. The Indian military hit back so quickly that there wasn’t even a window for anyone to step in and ask India to hold off.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance — that it would respond to every Pakistani military action with an even greater and more forceful reply — during his talks with foreign counterparts after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, according to sources. These interlocutors included US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

Even before the launch of Operation Sindoor, which initially targeted terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India’s leadership made it clear to interlocutors across the world that there should be no doubts about Indian strikes against terrorists based on Pakistani soil.

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Highlights from PM Modi’s Call with JD Vance on May 9

“In all our messages after April 22, we said we will hit the terrorists, there will be consequences. We were very, very clear from day one,” one of the people said. “They fire, we fire. They stop, we stop. There’s no ambiguity about this.”

CNN and the New York Times reported aspects of the conversation between Vance and Modi – including the US assessment of a high chance of dramatic violence and a proposed off-ramp that Pakistan might accept – but they haven’t reported the prime minister’s response yet.. The US administration decided that Vance should call Modi as he recently visited New Delhi and had developed a rapport with the prime minister.

Mr. Modi heard Mr. Vance out and then firmly said that if Pakistan takes any action, they can be sure India will hit back with a response that’s far more forceful, stronger, and more devastating than anything they attempt. They need to understand this,” the person cited above said.

When the Pakistani military attempted to strike 26 Indian military facilities on May 10, the Indian side responded with massive attacks on eight Pakistani air bases with long-range weapons, the people said. Hours later, the two sides reached an understanding on halting all military actions and firing.

The Americans accepted that there would be retribution, and the Pakistani side approached the US administration after India’s massive military strikes on May 10, the people said. It was then that Rubio called Jaishankar and said Pakistan was willing to accept an off-ramp, the people said. The Indian side, however, insisted on direct contact from the Pakistani side without any back channels, they added.

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