<h1>US claims mediation and sanctions ended India-Pakistan hostilities; India denies outside role and vows to defend interests</h1> White House press secretary reiterated the U.S. President's claim that U.S. mediation ended the India-Pakistan military conflict and that U.S. leverage, including trade measures, secured a ceasefire; the Indian government attributes cessation of hostilities to direct military-to-military talks and denies external instruction to halt operations. The administration also announced tariffs and sanctions on India tied to its energy purchases from Russia amid the Russia-Ukraine war, prompting India to call the measures unjustified and to assert it will protect national economic and security interests. Disputed factual claims and diplomatic measures raise potential international-law and trade-policy issues.