New Delhi [India]: India on Monday firmly reiterated that all issues related to Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed bilaterally with Pakistan, asserting that the outstanding issue remains the vacation of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
During a routine media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s long-standing position, saying:
“We have a long-standing national position 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 outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”
Clarification on US Role in Ceasefire Talks Post Operation Sindoor
Jaiswal was responding to questions on US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding American mediation during the recent India-Pakistan military standoff following the Pahalgam terror attack.
President Trump claimed that his administration helped “stop a nuclear conflict” and played a key role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan:
“We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war… My administration helped broker an immediate cessation of hostilities, I think a permanent one… We also helped with trade… I said, ‘If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.’”
However, Jaiswal categorically dismissed that trade was a part of any such discussions between Indian and US leadership during the military escalation:
“From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”
Context: Operation Sindoor and Its Aftermath
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, saw India conduct precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists.
In retaliation, Pakistan initiated military action, which was swiftly repelled by the Indian Armed Forces. India reportedly targeted several Pakistani airbases before the two countries agreed to a cessation of hostilities after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart.
India’s Stand Against Third-Party Mediation
India has long rejected any third-party involvement in the Kashmir dispute, including repeated proposals from various US administrations. The Indian government continues to emphasize that the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999 form the basis for bilateral resolution of outstanding issues with Pakistan.
This reiteration of policy comes amid rising concerns over external attempts to intervene diplomatically in Indo-Pak ties, particularly following major military events like Operation Sindoor.