NEW DELHI– External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has firmly dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he helped mediate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, clarifying that the truce was the outcome of direct discussions between the two countries—without any third-party involvement.
“This is something that only India and Pakistan need to settle directly,” Jaishankar stated during an interview in the Netherlands. He emphasized that while India remains open to dialogue, such talks must be serious and centered on ending cross-border terrorism. “We are always ready to talk, but the talks must be serious and should focus on stopping terrorism,” he added.
Trump recently asserted that his administration had helped broker peace in what he described as a “thousand-year conflict,” a claim India has strongly refuted. New Delhi has consistently maintained that issues with Pakistan, including those related to Kashmir, are bilateral in nature and do not warrant foreign mediation.
Jaishankar also offered historical context for the ongoing tensions, tracing them back to 1947 when Pakistan first infiltrated Kashmir with soldiers disguised as tribal militias. He accused Pakistan of continuing a longstanding strategy of extremism and cross-border terrorism to exert pressure on India.
Tensions escalated again following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people, including one Nepali national. In response, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a targeted military campaign that struck nine terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
According to Indian officials, the operation neutralized over 100 terrorists linked to proscribed groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
India’s strong response and Jaishankar’s remarks underscore the government’s position that bilateral issues must be handled directly, and that counter-terrorism remains a non-negotiable component of any future talks with Islamabad. (Source: IANS)