Hours after US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him an assurance that India would refrain from purchasing Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that there was no such conversation between the two leaders yesterday.

"As far as my information goes, there was no telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President Trump yesterday," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during his weekly media briefing on Thursday.

Earlier, India had emphasised that its import policies are driven purely by the necessity to protect Indian consumers in an unstable energy market.

"India is an importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to protect the Indian consumer in an unstable energy environment. Our import policies are driven purely by this imperative," the MEA spokesperson replied.

"Securing stable energy prices and assured supplies have been the twin objectives of our energy policy. This involves broad-basing our energy procurement and diversifying as fit to suit market conditions," he said, reiterating India's position ever since the start of 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.

"Where America is involved, we have for a long time been looking to broaden our energy buying. This has continued to move forward in recent years. There has been interest within the current Administration about enhancing energy cooperation with India. Those are being discussed," he told the conference.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday during a White House event, Trump explained, "This is a war that should have never been started, but it's a war that Russia could have won in the first week, and they're going into the fourth year. And I want to see it stop”.

"So, I was not pleased that India was purchasing oil, and he [PM Modi] has told me today that they will not be purchasing oil from Russia. You know, you can't do it overnight. It's a bit of a process, but the process is going to be completed soon," he said.

"That's a big one. Now we're going to get China to do the same thing," Trump said, adding that it would be "relatively easy compared to what we just did over the last week in the Middle East."

He was referring to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the release of hostages under a peace plan he had helped facilitate.

"If India doesn't purchase oil, it makes it easier to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. They have promised me that in a short span of time, they won't be purchasing oil from Russia, and they'll return to Russia once the war is finished," Trump said.

Trump further revealed that he expressed his concerns with PM Modi over India's ongoing Russian oil imports, which America views as indirectly subsidising President Vladimir Putin's war. "I was not happy that India was buying oil," he expressed.

Trump also spoke warmly of his relationship with PM Modi.

“Modi is a great man. He loves Trump,” he said, referring to himself in the third person. “I’ve watched India for years. It’s an incredible country, and every single year you’d have a new leader. My friend has been there now for a long time.”

Trump's comment came during ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement with India and nearly two months after the US slapped 25 per cent tariffs on India over Russian oil imports.

Regarding the Taliban government and Pakistan border clashes, the Ministry of External Affairs issued the following statement:

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Three things are clear – one, that Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities; two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures, and three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan."