New Delhi [India], June 01: Amid growing concerns about defence transparency and diplomatic developments, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday raised sharp questions over the sudden ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan and the claims made by former US President Donald Trump regarding his role in the truce.
Khera called on the central government to come forward with clarity on the ceasefire’s conditions and address the implications of both Trump’s assertions and recent remarks by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan.
“Questions are arising every day, the biggest of them is Donald Trump’s claims. We also want to know the conditions of the ceasefire, why was it so sudden and announced by the US President?” Khera told ANI.
“The CDS’ statements again raise many questions. The government needs to come forward. The country needs to know our defence preparedness.”
Trump’s Claims of Averting War
On Friday, Trump claimed his administration’s trade diplomacy helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, potentially preventing a nuclear conflict following the Pahalgam Terror Attack and India’s military response under Operation Sindoor. Trump emphasized that peace was achieved “through trade, not war.”
The statement stirred fresh debate in India about the extent of foreign involvement in the ceasefire and the Indian government’s decision-making process.
CDS Chauhan’s Revelations
On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, CDS Gen Chauhan admitted that Indian Armed Forces suffered losses in the early stages of Operation Sindoor, but later executed deep strikes inside Pakistan “with impunity.”
“On May 7 and in the initial stages, there were losses… but we rectified the tactics and went back on 7th, 8th, and 10th in large numbers to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan,” Chauhan was quoted by Reuters.
This has sparked criticism from the opposition, who argue that such revelations should have been first shared in Parliament, not through international platforms.
Congress Demands Special Parliamentary Session
Khera reiterated the Congress party’s longstanding demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss national security, citing historical precedent during the 1962 Indo-China war.
“It’s astonishing that even after a war has ended, no special session has been called. The nation deserves transparency,” Khera added.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for not sharing critical updates during two all-party meetings.
“Whatever Gen Chauhan has said from Singapore, that information should have been conveyed to opposition leaders earlier… Why did we have to wait for a press interview?” Ramesh said.
Background: Operation Sindoor and the Ceasefire
The latest ceasefire followed escalated hostilities after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. India responded with precision strikes inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, and heavy casualties and losses were reported from both sides. The ceasefire, suddenly announced by Trump, has left many political and defence analysts questioning India’s sovereignty in the decision-making.
Looking Ahead
With the monsoon session of Parliament weeks away, Congress leaders are pushing for immediate government briefing and a dedicated session to ensure accountability on national defence and foreign policy. Whether the Centre will address the opposition’s concerns remains to be seen.