The central government has dismissed claims of US involvement in the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, asserting that the decision to halt military operations was based on India’s own strategic objectives, particularly targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, MoS Ministry of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the ceasefire on May 10, 2025, was the outcome of a direct contact between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
This contact was initiated by the Pakistani side,” he said.
According to the minister, India had already achieved on 8 May the main objectives that it had set forth in terms of destroying designated terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
“Between April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 civilians were killed and May 10, there were a number of diplomatic conversations with various countries at different levels, including with the United States. All our interlocutors were given a common message that India’s approach was focused, measured and non-escalatory,” he said.
The minister said with specific regard to the United States, it was conveyed to Vice President J D Vance on May 9 that India would appropriately respond if Pakistan launched a major attack.
“The issue of our trade discussions did not come up in the context of conversations pertaining to the conflict,” he said.
Regarding the proposal for third party mediation, he said, “our long standing position remains that any outstanding issue with Pakistan will be discussed only bilaterally”.
“This has been made clear to all nations, including by the Prime Minister to the US President,” he added.