No nuke signalling, conflict stayed in conventional domain, says Misri

There was no nuclear signalling from Pakistan and the recent conflict remained in the conventional domain, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed a parliamentary panel on Monday. He underlined that India no longer distinguishes between terrorist leaders and the nations sheltering them.

Misri reiterated the government's position that the decision to stop military action was taken bilaterally, responding to several members' questions about US President Donald Trump's repeated assertions of his administration's role in halting the conflict.

An opposition member referred to Trump's several social media posts attempting to take "centre-stage" after India and Pakistan decided to cease hostilities. However, the Foreign Secretary stated that no other country has any locus standi to comment on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.


The three-hour meeting of the 31-member Parliamentary Panel on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, saw almost full attendance. Most questions centred around US "mediation", and the role of China and Turkey in supplying weapons and other support.

A note shared by the Ministry of External Affairs with the panel outlined India's 'New Normal' in dealing with cross-border terrorism:

First - Decisive retaliation

Terrorist attacks on India will be met with strong and resolute responses, with India retaliating on its own terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots.

Second - No tolerance for Nuclear blackmail

Any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes.

Third - No distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists

India will no longer differentiate between terrorist leaders and the nations sheltering them.

Some MPs, sources said, asked whether Pakistan used Chinese platforms during the conflict. Misri said it did not matter, as India had struck Pakistani air bases effectively.

The committee also unanimously condemned the trolling of Misri following the cessation of military action and praised his professional conduct, according to sources.

Responding to questions about Turkiye's adversarial stance towards India, Misri said the country had traditionally not been a supporter of India.

He informed the panel that a probe into the Pahalgam attack revealed terrorists had communicated with masterminds in Pakistan, sources said.

On questions regarding the IMF sanctioning loans to Pakistan, Misri said India had tried its best at the diplomatic level, but countries have their own interests.

Members also expressed concern about social media shaping diplomacy and the language of social media taking over official policy communication, sources added.

At the start of the meeting, Misri gave a detailed presentation on the history of Indo-Pak relations since 1947. He highlighted Pakistan's track record as a terror sanctuary.

Misri mentioned that it appears unlikely there will be any improvement in bilateral relations in the near future.