India Rejects Trump’s Role in India-Pak Truce, Highlights Military-to-Military Communication
India Rejects Trump’s Role in India-Pak Truce, Highlights Military-to-Military Communication
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has firmly dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington played a key role in brokering an understanding between India and Pakistan following the recent border tensions.
In a rare interview with Dutch public broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar stated that while US officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, spoke with both Indian and Pakistani leaders, the cessation of hostilities was a direct result of military-to-military communication between the two nations.
Timeline of Events Leading to Truce
Jaishankar provided a detailed timeline of events leading to the de-escalation. He highlighted that after India identified the group responsible for the “barbaric” Pahalgam terror attack, The Resistance Front (linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba), and struck nine terrorist-operated sites, Pakistan retaliated. India responded with strikes on eight Pakistani airbases on May 10, rendering key infrastructure non-functional. This, according to Jaishankar, compelled the Pakistani military to request a cessation of firing.
“The operation continues because there is a clear message in the operation that if there is an act like this, we will give a response, we will hit the terrorists, if the terrorists are in Pakistan, we will hit them there. But continuing operations is not the same as firing on each other. Right now, there is an agreed cessation of firing and military action. At the moment there is no firing, there has been some repositioning,” he added.
Kashmir Dispute: Bilateral Issue
Regarding Trump’s suggestion that the US should mediate on Kashmir, Jaishankar responded bluntly that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and must be dealt with accordingly.
“They [Pakistan] have pursued a radical, extremist, religious agenda using terrorism across the border as a way to pressurise us. We propose to deal with it bilaterally, with the Pakistanis. It is something that we and the Pakistanis have to settle one to one. We are open to them discussing this with us and their ending terrorism. It is a serious talk. It is between the two of us,” he stated.
He emphasized, “Kashmir is a part of India. No country negotiates a part of its territory. For us, it is part of India. There is one segment that has been under occupancy of Pakistan illegally since 1947-1948 so we would like to discuss with them, when they propose to leave that part. It is between us and the Pakistanis.”
Economic Outlook Remains Strong Despite Tensions
When asked about the economic pressures on India due to border tensions, Jaishankar stated that India has long faced a harsher security environment than Europe. He noted that despite recent tensions, India’s economic fundamentals remain strong and expressed optimism about the Indian growth trajectory.
“I’m bullish about our economic prospects. We are managing security challenges and zero tolerance for terrorism is non-negotiable,” he added.
Strengthening Ties with Netherlands and EU
Jaishankar emphasized the strategic and economic value of stronger ties with both the Netherlands and the EU, framing them as natural partners in an increasingly volatile world. He called the Netherlands one of India’s top five foreign investors and its largest European investor, while discussing deepening cooperation in sectors like water, agriculture, health, semiconductors, and defense.
US Trade Negotiations Ongoing
While refraining from giving specifics, Jaishankar hinted that trade negotiations with the United States are ongoing, stating, “Don’t jump the gun. Be patient. We don’t give readouts in advance. Any deal must work for both parties—however long it takes.”
