New Delhi on Wednesday firmly pushed back against China’s assertion that it played a mediating role during the military standoff between India and Pakistan earlier this year, making it clear that the ceasefire decision followed a direct request from Pakistan and not any external intervention.
Sources within the Indian government reiterated that India’s policy on mediation remains unchanged and unequivocal—there is no scope for third-party involvement in matters concerning India and Pakistan. Officials emphasized that after India carried out Operation Sindoor, it was Pakistan that reached out through official military channels seeking a cessation of hostilities.
India’s response came in the wake of recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who claimed Beijing had acted as a mediator in multiple global flashpoints, including the India-Pakistan conflict. China’s statement also aligned with earlier comments by US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that international mediation helped ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Rejecting these narratives, Indian sources clarified that no country facilitated talks or negotiations following Operation Sindoor. The ceasefire, they said, was the result of a formal communication initiated by Pakistan to India’s Director General of Military Operations, adhering strictly to bilateral protocols.
The confrontation in May was sparked by a brutal terror attack in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation marked a decisive military response before tensions de-escalated.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while speaking at an international symposium on China’s foreign relations, stated that Beijing had adopted a balanced approach to conflict resolution and had intervened diplomatically in several regions. However, Indian officials dismissed these claims regarding South Asia as factually incorrect and misleading.
New Delhi has consistently opposed attempts to internationalise its bilateral issues with Pakistan, maintaining that peace or conflict decisions are sovereign and based solely on direct engagement. Officials underlined that India will continue to counter any narrative that undermines this position.
