New Delhi, May 14 -- At a recent US State Department briefing, a Pakistani journalist's attempt to question the United States on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged opposition to de-escalation talks between India and Pakistan was firmly shut down. The exchange took place on Tuesday, amid heightened international attention on the ceasefire brokered between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The journalist began by portraying President Donald Trump as a "peace messiah" who had successfully mediated the ceasefire. He claimed that while Pakistan welcomed Trump's efforts, India's Prime Minister Modi had not shown similar enthusiasm. The reporter asked Tommy Pigott, the US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson:

"Pakistan welcome...