‘No conversation on trade during our talks with US on Pahalgam,’ says S Jaishankar on Op Sindoor debate

Source: The Indian Express | Original Published At: 2025-07-28 19:03:48 UTC

Key Points

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar denied trade discussions with the US related to the Pahalgam attack
• Opposition raised security lapses and accountability issues regarding the Pahalgam terror attack
• Mentions of international condemnation from Quad and BRICS
• Debate included criticism of government's handling of the attack and information transparency

00:33 (IST) 29 Jul 2025

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The security lapses that led to the Pahalgam attack, the failure to apprehend all the attackers, the claims by US President Donald Trump of having brokered peace between India and Pakistan, and the supposed losses of aircraft suffered by the armed forces – the Opposition raised all these issues during the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha Monday,

Starting the debate on the Opposition’s behalf, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the Centre had withheld critical details, and asked how the terrorists had managed to carry out the killings on April 22.

“This is a war of information,” Gogoi said. “(Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh gave a lot of details, but couldn’t say how five terrorists reached Pahalgam. Twenty-six innocent people were killed and we still don’t know who helped the terrorists or how they fled… You have Pegasus, satellites, CRPF, BSF, CISF, and yet no answers after 100 days?”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah should take “moral responsibility” for the killings, Gogoi said. “You can’t hide behind the L-G (J&K Lieutenant Governor). And this government, rather than accepting lapses, blamed tour operators!”

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Pahalgam after cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia and flying back, contrasting it with Rahul Gandhi. “Our leader went there. He is demanding martyr status for those killed,” the Congress MP said. Read Full Report