External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was achieved through direct military communication between the two countries, not via international mediation.
“The cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan,” Jaishankar said in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. “We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States, but to everyone, saying look, if the Pakistani want to stop the firing, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them, their general has to call our general and say this, and that is what happened.”
On 10 May, a hotline call from the Pakistani military signalled their intent to stop hostilities. India responded accordingly.
Responding to a question about military communications, Jaishankar confirmed that both armies used an existing hotline. “Yes, we have a mechanism to talk to each other as a hotline. So, on the 10th of May, it was the Pakistani army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly.”
He acknowledged that while countries like the US, Gulf nations, and others expressed concern and spoke to both sides, the final agreement to end hostilities was made between India and Pakistan alone.
Operation Sindoor and the April 22 attack
Tensions flared after a terror attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 civilian lives. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' in the early hours of 7 May. The operation targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to Indian military sources, over 100 militants linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed.
Pakistan retaliated with shelling along the Line of Control and attempted drone incursions. India answered with strikes on radar systems, airfields, and communication centres in Pakistan. These escalations culminated in India launching a decisive air campaign on 10 May, striking eight Pakistani airbases.
“We hit their runways, we hit their command centres,” Jaishankar said. “This is the kind of… you hit a runway, you make the airbase non-operational or you went after what is an air-defence command control system. This is the airbase close to Rawalpindi. That, I think, compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other.”
No external broker, despite US claims
While India and Pakistan reached an understanding to end hostilities on 10 May, former US President Donald Trump claimed that he brokered the ceasefire.
"If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India, we settled that whole thing, and I think I settled it through trade. We’re doing a big deal with India. We’re doing a big deal with Pakistan,” Trump said at a White House meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Earlier, Trump had posted on his platform, Truth Social: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
India promptly rebutted the claims. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the ceasefire understanding was strictly bilateral.
“Our longstanding national position is that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed,” the MEA said. It also noted that “the issue of trade did not come up in any discussions between Indian and U.S. leaders” from the start of Operation Sindoor to the ceasefire on 10 May.
India’s stance: Measured response, clear policy
The Indian government has maintained that retaliation is necessary following terror attacks. “After the terrorists struck, it was imperative that we have a response because lack of response… was impossible in such a situation,” Jaishankar said.
When the journalist pointed out that previous governments had chosen not to respond to such attacks, Jaishankar replied, “And we have seen the results. So, our government has been very clear. Okay, I accept that may not be the policy of the earlier government. But, our government is very clear: If there is such an attack, there will be a response.”
India targeted terror locations listed by the United Nations. “The response was there, the response targeted these nine places… all shown in the UN list. I mean this is where the terrorists work and live and operate from,” he explained.
While open hostilities have paused, Jaishankar said Operation Sindoor remains active. The message is clear: any future attacks will meet a swift response.
“The operation continues because there is a clear message in that operation, that if there are acts of the kind we saw on April 22nd, there will be a response, we will hit the terrorists. If the terrorists are in Pakistan, we will hit them where they are,” Jaishankar said. “But continuing the operation is not the same as firing on each other. Right now, there is agreed cessation of firing and military action.”
(With inputs from ANI)
“The cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan,” Jaishankar said in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. “We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States, but to everyone, saying look, if the Pakistani want to stop the firing, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them, their general has to call our general and say this, and that is what happened.”
On 10 May, a hotline call from the Pakistani military signalled their intent to stop hostilities. India responded accordingly.
Responding to a question about military communications, Jaishankar confirmed that both armies used an existing hotline. “Yes, we have a mechanism to talk to each other as a hotline. So, on the 10th of May, it was the Pakistani army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly.”
He acknowledged that while countries like the US, Gulf nations, and others expressed concern and spoke to both sides, the final agreement to end hostilities was made between India and Pakistan alone.
Operation Sindoor and the April 22 attack
Tensions flared after a terror attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 civilian lives. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' in the early hours of 7 May. The operation targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to Indian military sources, over 100 militants linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed.
Pakistan retaliated with shelling along the Line of Control and attempted drone incursions. India answered with strikes on radar systems, airfields, and communication centres in Pakistan. These escalations culminated in India launching a decisive air campaign on 10 May, striking eight Pakistani airbases.
“We hit their runways, we hit their command centres,” Jaishankar said. “This is the kind of… you hit a runway, you make the airbase non-operational or you went after what is an air-defence command control system. This is the airbase close to Rawalpindi. That, I think, compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other.”
No external broker, despite US claims
While India and Pakistan reached an understanding to end hostilities on 10 May, former US President Donald Trump claimed that he brokered the ceasefire.
"If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India, we settled that whole thing, and I think I settled it through trade. We’re doing a big deal with India. We’re doing a big deal with Pakistan,” Trump said at a White House meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Earlier, Trump had posted on his platform, Truth Social: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
India promptly rebutted the claims. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the ceasefire understanding was strictly bilateral.
“Our longstanding national position is that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed,” the MEA said. It also noted that “the issue of trade did not come up in any discussions between Indian and U.S. leaders” from the start of Operation Sindoor to the ceasefire on 10 May.
India’s stance: Measured response, clear policy
The Indian government has maintained that retaliation is necessary following terror attacks. “After the terrorists struck, it was imperative that we have a response because lack of response… was impossible in such a situation,” Jaishankar said.
When the journalist pointed out that previous governments had chosen not to respond to such attacks, Jaishankar replied, “And we have seen the results. So, our government has been very clear. Okay, I accept that may not be the policy of the earlier government. But, our government is very clear: If there is such an attack, there will be a response.”
India targeted terror locations listed by the United Nations. “The response was there, the response targeted these nine places… all shown in the UN list. I mean this is where the terrorists work and live and operate from,” he explained.
While open hostilities have paused, Jaishankar said Operation Sindoor remains active. The message is clear: any future attacks will meet a swift response.
“The operation continues because there is a clear message in that operation, that if there are acts of the kind we saw on April 22nd, there will be a response, we will hit the terrorists. If the terrorists are in Pakistan, we will hit them where they are,” Jaishankar said. “But continuing the operation is not the same as firing on each other. Right now, there is agreed cessation of firing and military action.”
(With inputs from ANI)
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