Islamabad: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has admitted that India categorically rejected any third-party involvement during Operation Sindoor, reiterating that New Delhi considered the conflict a strictly bilateral matter between the two countries. His remarks directly contradict former US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that he had mediated between India and Pakistan.
India’s stand on mediation
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Dar revealed details of his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on July 25. According to him, Rubio made it clear that India had left no room for ambiguity in its position.
“When I met Secretary Rubio on July 25 in Washington, I asked him about the status of dialogue between India and the US over the conflict. Rubio replied that India said it is a bilateral issue,” Dar stated.
He further explained that while Islamabad remained open to third-party involvement, New Delhi consistently opposed any such role.
“We don’t mind third-party involvement, but India has categorically been stating it’s a bilateral matter. We don’t mind bilateral, but the dialogues have to be comprehensive—on terrorism, trade, economy, Jammu and Kashmir, all subjects that we have discussed earlier,” Dar told the channel.
Admission on ceasefire request
This was not the first time Dar made such an acknowledgement. Earlier this month, he conceded that Pakistan itself had requested a ceasefire after sustaining losses from Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor.
“We did not ask the United States or any other country to arrange talks. The ceasefire request came from Pakistan,” he clarified during a separate media interaction.
Political fallout in India
Dar’s candid remarks quickly triggered a sharp reaction in New Delhi. The BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of peddling misinformation by echoing Trump’s claims.
“There was no 3rd party mediation. Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully → Pakistan’s own Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Al Jazeera that India categorically rejected any third-party ceasefire mediation. Stop peddling lies. Stop echoing Pakistan’s propaganda,” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Trump’s mediation narrative
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly maintained that he personally intervened to secure the May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Shortly after the truce, Trump declared on Truth Social, “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both countries.”
Dar’s statements, however, dismantle that narrative, underscoring that India never allowed space for third-party mediation and that the ceasefire was in fact sought by Pakistan itself.
