New Delhi:
Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor on Sunday weighed US President Donald Trump claiming a credit for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, suggesting that it was “mediation”, but American efforts to play a creative role.
Trump had claimed on Saturday evening that the US had armed between India and Pakistan, and the two neighbors had agreed to complete and immediate ceasefire. Within an hour, the two countries officially declared a ceasefire.
Mr. Tharoor called it “a very unfortunate way to move forward”, in a comment to NDTV after the former chief of his party and the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi underlined that Trump declared a ceasefire in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
See full interview:
#Ndtvexclusive “Kinetic hostility is not India’s work”: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (@Shashitharoor) For NDTV @Maryashakil pic.twitter.com/jgvbwmknpb
– NDTV (@NDTV) May 11, 2025
“I think this is a very unfortunate way to move forward. I have definitely not seen anything like this in international diplomacy,” said Thiruvananthapuram MP who served in the United Nations.
Mr. Tharoor said that the Foreign Minister of both India and Pakistan is posting online about his talks with foreign leaders in the last few days.
“Let me be blunt about it … Jaishankar spoke to Secretary Rubio. Then he (Rubio) spoke with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Such contacts were going on in these three or four days of struggle. But this does not mean that India was requesting arbitration,” he said.
The former diplomat suggested that India’s interaction with the US could not be called mediation, but a creative role played by Washington.
He said, “This is not arbitration. This American is trying to play a creative role. If he or any other country has done so, (this) is great. Clearly, America was not the only country. Jaishankar is talking to foreign ministers of UAE, UK or France (as well).”
The fact is that, he said, such conversations often involve talking to both sides in other nations, in which they address each other of the other.
“This is not the same as Trump has claimed a credit for mediation as India would never have demanded mediation, mediation does not mean, and I think this idea will never be accepted that we have not accepted foreign arbitrations in a struggle in any way that we are able to handle ourselves,” said Sri Tharaur.
Trump congratulated India and Pakistan for a ceasefire in a post on his true social platform which he claimed that the United States was armed.
“After a long night of the intermediary conversation by the United States, I am happy to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a complete and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to the two countries on using general knowledge and great intelligence. Thank you for paying attention to the matter,” He wrote on the truth social.
A day later, he said that he was proud of the “strong and unwavering powerful leadership” of the two countries to agree to the stop in aggression. “I am proud that USA was able to help you reach this historic and brave decision,” he claimed.
He also offered to work with both neighbors to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. While the response of the Government of India is awaited on his proposal, it can be stated that New Delhi has always emphasized that Kashmir is an integral part of India and opposes any third-party mediation.
The ceasefire followed Pakistan’s acute border firing and drone and missile attacks in three nights, when Indian forces carried out Operation Sindoor, in response to the fierce Pahgam Terror Attack, deep terrorist targets within Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK). With Indian forces bombing in Pakistani air areas in vengeance, Pakistan faced huge cost for provocation.
