New Delhi, June 18 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 35-minute phone conversation on Monday-their first direct exchange since the launch of India's cross-border Operation Sindoor. The call, initiated by President Trump after a scheduled bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Canada was cancelled due to his early return to Washington, marks a key moment in India-U.S. diplomatic engagement following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Trump had earlier called Modi on the night of the Pahalgam attack to express condolences and extend his support to India's counter-terror efforts.

Monday's phone call was the first strategic-level discussion between the two leaders since then.

During th...