SRINAGAR: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday made it clear that no third-party intervention was involved in the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, stating that the cessation of hostilities earlier this month was the result of direct communication between the military leaderships of the two nations.
Speaking in an interview with a Dutch news channel, Jaishankar said, “The cessation of firing and the ceasefire agreement was directly negotiated between India and Pakistan. We made it very clear to the international community, not only the United States, that if Pakistan wanted to stop firing, their general should call our general. That is exactly how it happened—their DGMO called his counterpart here, and an understanding was reached.”
He added that while many countries urged India to end the firing, New Delhi maintained a consistent position. “Our stand was very clear—Pakistan must come forward and request it,” he said.
Jaishankar pointedly criticised Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, attributing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to his “hardline and extremist outlook.” The attack, which left 26 civilians—mostly tourists—dead, was not just an act of terrorism, he said, but “an attempt to strike at the heart of Kashmir’s economy and harmony.”
“Religion was deliberately used to create division and fear. This was a barbaric assault aimed at crippling Kashmir’s flourishing tourism sector and inciting communal discord,” he added.
The External Affairs Minister stated that the victims were targeted in front of their families after being identified by their faith, reflecting the deeply communal motivation behind the attack. “The leadership of the Pakistan Army is driven by an extreme religious ideology, which directly influences such actions,” he said.
Responding to whether a new era of friendship between India and Pakistan was possible in light of China’s growing regional influence, Jaishankar replied, “You don’t choose between security and economic prosperity. The world is realising that you must be prepared for both.”
He also provided a broader geopolitical analysis, noting that Western powers have only recently started experiencing the kind of security threats India has long dealt with. “We have had to manage difficult neighbours—China and Pakistan—and endure cross-border terrorism for years,” he said.
“The world is now undergoing a reality check. India has always addressed its regional challenges with realism. It has been a harsh and nasty world for us. Europeans were insulated for decades. That is no longer the case,” Jaishankar remarked. (KNO)
