India, Pakistan quietly agreed to ceasefire, US played no role: S Jaishankar

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 22, 2025: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated that the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was the result of a direct bilateral arrangement, and not influenced by international mediation, particularly from the United States. In an interview with the Netherlands-based broadcaster NOS, Mr Jaishankar highlighted India’s longstanding concerns over Pakistan’s use of terrorism as a state policy and stressed that India has every right to respond decisively to such threats.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian response resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists associated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Mr Jaishankar said that the continuation of Operation Sindoor served a strategic purpose. "The operation continues because there is a clear message in that operation - 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," he said.

He clarified that while the operation remained active in principle, it did not mean continued military engagement.

"Continuing the operation is not the same as fighting with each other. Right now, there is an agreed cessation of fighting and military action. So the operation is dormant," he said.

According to Mr Jaishankar, the ceasefire agreement was initiated by the Pakistani military on May 10 through hotline communication.

"It was the Pakistani army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly," he said. Mr Jaishankar again reiterated that while other countries, including the United States, expressed concern and made calls to both sides, the ceasefire was negotiated exclusively between New Delhi and Islamabad.