New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar dismissed US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, emphasising that the recent agreement resulted from direct negotiations between the two nations, without third-party involvement.
During a media interview in the Netherlands, Jaishankar reaffirmed this stance, stating, “This is something that only India and Pakistan need to settle directly.”
He reiterated that India is open to dialogue with Pakistan, but only under serious terms that prioritise an end to cross-border terrorism. “We are always ready to talk, but the talks must be serious and should focus on stopping terrorism,” he added.
Jaishankar’s remarks were made in response to Trump’s earlier claim that the United States had played a role in brokering peace in what he termed a “thousand-year conflict” between India and Pakistan.
India, however, has consistently upheld its stance that the Kashmir issue and related tensions are strictly bilateral and do not necessitate external mediation.
In a recent interview, Jaishankar explored the historical intricacies of the India-Pakistan relationship, tracing its roots back to the Partition in 1947.
He stated that Pakistan’s pattern of hostility began when it sent fighters disguised as tribal militias into Kashmir, fighters who were later identified as Pakistani soldiers, some in uniform and some not.
“Over many years, Pakistan has followed a path of extremism and has used terrorism across the border to put pressure on India,” Jaishankar remarked.
Tensions between the two neighbouring nations escalated once again after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one Nepali national. In retaliation, India initiated ‘Operation Sindoor’, a precision counter-terror strike aimed at nine critical terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Official sources report that over 100 terrorists linked to notorious groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were neutralised in the operation.
(inputs from IANS)