Pakistan confirms India rejected third-party mediation during Operation Sindoor

Doha [Qatar], September 16 (ANI): Pakistan confirmed that India firmly rejected any third-party mediation in resolving bilateral issues with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

During an interview with Al Jazeera, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday contradicted claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted that the US brokered a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Trump, since May, had been claiming that his administration mediation averted a potential nuclear war.

Dar stated Pakistan sought a ceasefire after India strikes, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informing him India doesnt support outside involvement.

Incidentally, when the ceasefire offer came through [US] Secretary [of State] Rubio to me on the 10th of May... I was told that there would be a dialogue between Pakistan and India at an independent place... When we met on the 25th of July during a bilateral meeting with Secretary Rubio in Washington, I asked him What happened to those dialogues?, he said, India says that it is a bilateral issue, Dar said.

India precision strikes targeted nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, retaliating against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Dar emphasised Pakistan willingness for comprehensive talks covering terrorism, trade, economy, and Jammu and Kashmir, stressing it takes two to tango.

We dont mind, but India has categorically been stating it bilateral. We dont mind bilateral. However, the dialogues must be comprehensive, encompassing discussions on terrorism, trade, the economy, and Jammu and Kashmir. All these subjects which we have both been discussing, he said.

We are not begging for anything. If any country wants dialogue, we are happy; we are welcome... We believe that dialogue is the way forward, but obviously it takes two to tango. So, unless India wishes to have dialogue, we cant force dialogue. We dont wish to force dialogue, Dar added.

The revelation from Dar comes amid India maintaining that the issue is strictly bilateral, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dismissing Trump claims as bizarre, if not unfair.

India attributed the ceasefire to direct military-to-military talks between Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs). (ANI)

Disclaimer: This news article is a direct feed from ANI and has not been edited by the News Nation team. The news agency is solely responsible for its content.