S Jaishankar was asked if US needs to be thanked for India, Pak ceasefire. His reply says it all
S Jaishankar was asked if the world needs to thank the United States for the ceasefire between New Delhi and Pakistan, to which the External Affairs Minister said he would thank the Indian armed forces for leaving Pakistan with no choice but to reach out for a cessation of firing.
Jaishankar made the remarks during an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
When asked if the world has America to thank for the ceasefire, Jaishankar said, "The cessation of firing was agreed between the military commanders of both sides through direct contact. The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan's main airbases and air defence system.
"So, who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop."
In another interview, Jaishankar said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had reached out, but their role was limited to expressing concern.
"We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States but to everyone, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this. And that is what happened," he said.
Asked if the ceasefire has restored the situation before the conflict, Jaishankar said, "We have sent a clear signal to the terrorists that there is a price to be paid for carrying out such attacks, as they did on us in Kashmir in April. The firing was then started by the Pakistani military.
"We fired back in self-defence and once the Pakistanis understood that they were taking a harmful course, we were able to stop firing. This situation has not changed for two weeks, that is the status," he said.
Jaishankar has maintained that India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally and that there should be no confusion in that regard.
In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that India will not give in to nuclear blackmail by Pakistan, and Jaishankar underscored this as well.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump took credit for brokering a ceasefire between Indian and Pakistan following four days of escalation and even offered to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Operation Sindoor was a fierce military operation launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists who were enjoying their vacation at Baisaran Valley, which is referred to as India's Switzerland.
The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
After the Pakistan Army again targeted Indian civilians and resorted to cross-border firing, the Indian Armed Forces retaliated, destroying defence systems of the hostile neighbour. On May 10, both countries agreed for a ceasefire after four days of escalation.
Following the same, India is sending a total of seven all-party delegations to different countries to apprise them of the significance of Operation Sindoor and expose Pakistan's role in harbouring cross-border terrorism.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Big push to India–Oman ties: PM Modi takes centre stage at Key Business Forum
PM Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the India–Oman Business Forum in Muscat when he highlighted the centuries-old maritime trading ties between the two countries, from Mandvi to Muscat, which today forms the bedrock of vibrant commercial exchanges.

Hijab Row: Union minister Giriraj Singh defends Nitish Kumar, sparks fresh outrage
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday strongly defended Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar amid the growing controversy over an incident in which Kumar was seen pulling down the veil of a woman doctor during an official event, triggering widespread political backlash.

Income tax officials search Shilpa Shetty’s home in probe linked to Bastian Restaurant
Income tax officials conducted searches at actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s residence on Thursday in connection with a case linked to her upscale restaurant brand, Bastian, media reports said.

YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi under ED lens for promoting illegal betting apps, luxury cars seized
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into alleged money laundering linked to illegal online betting and gambling platforms, conducting searches at the residence of YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao.
Latest News

What is Chhayanaut—and why Islamists set it on fire in Dhaka amid protests over Hadi's death?

Tripura Govt aims to make TFTI best film institute in Northeast: CM

No space for such violence: Yunus govt reacts over Hindu man's killing in Bangladesh

Top doctors, new hope: What emerged from the Blood Club Education Conclave

