US was in United States: EAM Jaishankar on Trump's claim on mediation

External affairs minister S Jaishankar reiterated that the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was the result of a direct bilateral arrangement and not influenced by international mediation, including from the US.

In an interview with the Netherlands-based broadcaster NOS during his recent trip to the western European country, Jaishankar pointed out, "It was the Pakistani Army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly".

Jaishankar noted that while other countries, including the US, expressed concern and made calls to both sides, the ceasefire was negotiated exclusively between New Delhi and Islamabad.


"The US was in the United States," Jaishankar noted pointedly, in response to a question about Washington's involvement. He confirmed that US secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance had reached out - Rubio to him and Vance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi - 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."

US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, again claimed he had settled the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. Trump went on to suggest that trade was involved in the process. The remark was made in passing during a bilateral meeting with the South African president in White House.

Jaishankar also highlighted India's long-standing concerns over Pakistan's use of terrorism as a state policy and stressed that India has every right to respond decisively to such threats.