Operation Sindoor: India Rejects Trump’s Mediation Claim, Emphasises Direct Talks with Pakistan

In a firm and clear message, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has refuted claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding American involvement in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Speaking during an interview in the Netherlands, Jaishankar clarified that no third party was involved and that the recent ceasefire was a direct outcome of discussions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

“This is something that only India and Pakistan need to settle directly,” Jaishankar stated, reaffirming India’s long-standing position on keeping external actors out of the equation. He stressed that India is open to dialogue, but only if Pakistan is willing to engage seriously and stop sponsoring cross-border terrorism. “We are always ready to talk, but the talks must be serious and should focus on stopping terrorism,” he said.

Jaishankar's response came after Trump claimed that the U.S. had helped bring peace in what he described as a “thousand-year conflict.” India, however, has consistently rejected such claims, asserting that the Kashmir issue and related tensions are strictly bilateral matters.

In the same interview, Jaishankar provided context to the complex India-Pakistan relationship, which has remained strained since the partition of British India in 1947. He recalled how Pakistan initiated hostility early on by sending fighters disguised as tribal militias into Kashmir. These individuals were later confirmed to be Pakistani soldiers, some in uniform and others in disguise.

“Over many years, Pakistan has followed a path of extremism and has used terrorism across the border to put pressure on India,” he noted, pointing to a pattern of provocations that has continued for decades.

Tensions escalated sharply after a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people, including a Nepali citizen. In response, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a precision military operation targeting nine major terrorist hideouts across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Sources familiar with the operation revealed that over 100 terrorists from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were eliminated in the strike. The operation was a strong statement of India’s intent to tackle terrorism at its roots and demonstrated its capacity for targeted counter-terror action.

With Operation Sindoor, India sent a clear message: the country will defend its people and territory with decisive force, and it does not rely on international intermediaries to manage its core security issues. As Jaishankar reiterated, peace with Pakistan is possible — but only when terrorism stops and dialogue is taken seriously.