An Indian official has dismissed American claims of mediation in the recent military standoff
The US was “neither involved nor informed” about the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a top Indian bureaucrat told a parliamentary committee on Monday, according to a report in The Hindu.
When asked by an MP as to why US President Donald Trump had announced the cessation of hostilities even before India and Pakistan did, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri rebutted the suggestions of American mediation, according to the report. He said conversations with US officials were ongoing during the recent military standoff and that they were part of a routine process.
The South Asian neighbors engaged in major hostilities after India launched strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan-controlled territory on May 7, in response to a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.
Even before New Delhi and Islamabad could make a ceasefire announcement, Trump claimed that Washington had helped mediate a truce between them on May 10.
The US president reiterated those claims in a press briefing last week where he said his administration was instrumental in brokering the ceasefire, and that he was confident it would last.
Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told RT in an exclusive interview that India’s zero tolerance for terrorism and ability to react to Pakistani moves is what led to a ceasefire between the South Asian neighbors after four days of intense fighting.
”We responded to the terror attack and Pakistan, instead of understanding the gravity of the situation, decided to escalate,” Kumar said, adding that India countered “every” attempt at escalation from its neighbor.
Indian Foreign Ministry officials have further clarified that New Delhi has responded through proper channels to all of Trump’s statements.
When addressing the parliamentary panel on Monday, Misri also reiterated the Indian government’s stance that there was no deviation from the stated policy of no third-party mediation in bilateral matters with Pakistan.
