Jaishankar Refutes Trump’s Mediation Claim in India-Pakistan Ceasefire
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has categorically rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of having mediated the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs, Jaishankar stated that the ceasefire was a result of direct military-level talks and had no foreign intervention.
Ceasefire Followed Operation Sindoor
The ceasefire was preceded by India’s decisive military action—Operation Sindoor—launched on May 7, 2025, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 Indian lives.
Jaishankar explained that communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries facilitated the ceasefire. He emphasized that India neither sought nor accepted external mediation, reiterating, “They fire, we fire. They stop, we stop.”
This reinforces India’s long-standing strategic doctrine that security and border matters, particularly those involving Pakistan, are to be handled bilaterally.
Reaffirmation of India’s No-Mediation Policy
Responding directly to Trump’s assertion that his diplomatic outreach helped calm tensions, Jaishankar reaffirmed that India remains committed to its policy of rejecting third-party mediation on matters related to Kashmir and national security.
India’s rejection of Trump’s claims aligns with its past positions, including rebuffing similar remarks made during Trump’s presidency in 2019 and 2020. At the time, India had firmly denied needing mediation over the Kashmir issue, asserting that all outstanding issues with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally under the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.
Domestic and International Responses
Jaishankar’s remarks have sparked political reactions at home. The Congress party and other opposition leaders demanded clarity on whether any diplomatic backchannel with Washington influenced the ceasefire timeline. Some criticized the Modi government for not addressing Trump’s statements earlier.
Globally, the Indian response signals a continued preference for strategic autonomy in regional security matters. While the ceasefire has been welcomed by the international community, India’s dismissal of foreign involvement underscores its desire to manage its Pakistan strategy independently.
As Operation Sindoor continues to reverberate diplomatically and militarily, Jaishankar’s intervention firmly positions India’s ceasefire as a sovereign decision executed on its own terms—without American interference.
