External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has asserted that the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was reached solely through bilateral dialogue, without any external mediation, including from the United States. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar detailed India’s response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam—Operation Sindoor—which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 100 militants from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba were eliminated. While the operation remains "active in principle," it is currently dormant, signaling no ongoing military activity unless provoked.
Jaishankar clarified that the ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan via a hotline call on May 10, to which India responded in kind. He dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump of any American role in brokering peace, emphasizing that India conducts its affairs with Pakistan independently. Reaffirming India’s unwavering position on Kashmir, Jaishankar said talks with Pakistan will only address the return of areas under illegal occupation. He also highlighted Pakistan's continued use of proxy warfare since 1947, reinforcing India's resolve to respond decisively to terrorism.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made it unequivocally clear that the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan was a result of direct engagement between the two nations, without any involvement from the United States or other international actors. In an interview with NOS, Jaishankar revealed that after the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror sites across the border and eliminating over 100 militants. The operation, while inactive for now, remains operational in principle as a warning that India will not hesitate to act again if provoked by cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar stated that the Pakistani military reached out through a hotline on May 10 to initiate the ceasefire, which India accepted, leading to a pause in hostilities. He strongly denied claims that the U.S. had mediated the truce and reiterated India's policy of bilateralism in all matters concerning Pakistan. He further stressed that India’s only conversation regarding Kashmir is about reclaiming the region illegally held by Pakistan. Citing decades of proxy warfare by Pakistan, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's firm stance on national security and its readiness to respond decisively to threats.