Was it White House intervention that ultimately brought about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor'? Speaking to a parliamentary panel on Monday, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said that the decision to halt the military operation was taken bilaterally after a request from Pakistan.
Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) wanted the exchange of fire and other hostilities to halt, which led to bilateral discussions and a ceasefire deal. There was no question of US mediation between New Delhi and Islamabad, Jaishankar told the members of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs. According to the MEA, the United States was urging India to speak with Pakistan. India maintained that terror and talks would not go together, news agency PTI quoted him as saying during the address.
Jaishankar also brushed aside the opposition argument that Islamabad was told about the decision to target terror bases in PoK and Pakistan beforehand. He added that the precision strikes at terror camps also hit the morale of Pakistani forces.
Meanwhile, another news report quoted the MEA as making a similar statement to a German daily. When asked whether the United States was responsible for convincing India and Pakistan to lay down their arms, Jaishankar credited the Indian Armed Forces instead. The military commanders of India and Pakistan took the ceasefire decision through direct talks after India hit airbases and defence systems in the neighbouring country, NDTV quoted the minister as telling the German newspaper. "So, who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop," the report quoted him as saying.
Jaishankar shared pictures of chairing the Consultative Committee Meeting of MEA on X.
"Discussed Operation Sindoor and India's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Underlined the importance of sending a strong and united message in that regard," the minister also said.
While Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry gave a presentation on Operation Sindoor to the MPs at the meeting, Jaishankar responded to queries later.
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The sources said the Congress members asked the government why India was "hyphenated" with Pakistan by the US and also raised the issue of IMF aid to Pakistan and India's abstention at the meet.
They said the Congress also raised concerns over Pakistan's growing relationship with China.
Following India conducting Operation Sindoor on May 7, the two countries exchanged fire for three days until a ceasefire came into force on May 10 at 5:00 PM. US President Donald Trump was the first to let the world know of the development, claiming that peace was acquired as a result of US-mediated talks. Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that both countries have agreed to hold discussions at a neutral venue. US Vice President JD Vance and himself have been holding talks with both sides for the last two days, Rubio said before appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shehbaz Sharif for "choosing the path of peace."
"Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik. I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site. We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace," his post on X said.