External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently addressed the Lok Sabha regarding the sequence of events leading to the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor, offering critical insights into the roles played by various actors and dismissing claims of external mediation.

Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that US Vice President JD Vance had contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, warning of an imminent and massive attack from Pakistan. According to Jaishankar, the Prime Minister responded firmly, making it clear that any attack would be met with an appropriate and strong response from the Indian side. India successfully thwarted the attack.

Following India's retaliatory operation, Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan, several countries reached out to New Delhi, conveying that Pakistan was ready to cease fighting. However, India insisted that any request for a ceasefire had to come directly from Pakistan through the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) channel. Jaishankar emphasized that this formal communication was a prerequisite for any consideration of a ceasefire.

Jaishankar also addressed and refuted claims made by former US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that he played a role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, potentially linking it to trade negotiations. Jaishankar stated that there was no linkage between trade discussions and the ceasefire. He further clarified that no calls occurred between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump from April 22 to June 17.

In response to questions about international support, Jaishankar asserted that India had received widespread backing from various countries, including China, Iran, and Russia, all of whom condemned the initial terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He countered claims that India stood isolated during the conflict, emphasizing the strong diplomatic support India received.

Jaishankar highlighted the government's firm stance against cross-border terrorism following the Pahalgam attack, which he described as an act of "economic warfare" intended to destabilize Kashmir's tourism industry and incite communal tensions. In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, canceled visas for Pakistani nationals, declared diplomats at the Islamabad High Commission persona non grata, and closed the Attari border. India's firm diplomatic and military response signaled a "new normal" in its approach to cross-border terrorism.

The External Affairs Minister's statements underscored the Indian government's commitment to protecting its citizens and responding decisively to acts of terrorism, while also dispelling misinformation regarding external influence in the ceasefire process.