‘Strictly bilateral’: Jaishankar responds to Trump's offer on India-Pakistan talks

Jaishankar's remarks come after Donald Trump's claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and his offer to mediate the Kashmir issue.

Updated on: May 15, 2025, 17:04:32 IST

By HT News Desk

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External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that all of India's relations with Pakistan would be strictly bilateral.

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (unseen), at latter residence in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo) (ANI)

Jaishankar's remarks come after US President Donald Trump's claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and his offer to mediate the long-standing Kashmir issue between both countries.

"Our relations and dealings with Pakistan will be strictly bilateral. That is a national consensus for years, and there is absolutely no change in that," Jaishankar told the media.

India and Pakistan on May 10 reached an understanding on stopping all hostilities that started in the aftermath of New Delhi's 'Operation Sindoor' launched in the wee hours of May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in PoK and Pakistan's Punjab province. The operation resulted in the neutralization of over 100 terrorists, the Indian Armed Forces said.

While Trump claimed that the ceasefire was brokered by his administration, the director general of military operations (DGMO) Lt. General Rajiv Ghai clarified that he had gotten a call from his Pakistani counterpart, requesting de-escalation.

Donald Trump's offer on Kashmir

Donald Trump did not just stop at claiming that his administration brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a claim that New Delhi has rejected. He also went on to offer mediation between the neighbours to ‘solve’ the Kashmir issue.

"I am going to increase trade substantially with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on May 11.

While Pakistan welcomed the offer, India rejected it. New Delhi's long-standing policy is to base the resolution of every issue with Pakistan on the Shimla Agreement of 1972. India has time and again said that all issues with Pakistan can only be settled bilaterally.

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