US Role In India-Pak Ceasefire Not Mediation: Shashi Tharoor Explains Why
Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor on Sunday weighed in on US President Donald Trump claiming credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, suggesting it was "not mediation" but US efforts at playing a constructive role.
Trump had on Saturday evening claimed that the US had mediated between India and Pakistan, and the two neighbours had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Within an hour, both countries officially announced the ceasefire.
Mr Tharoor called it a "very unfortunate way of proceeding", in a remark to NDTV hours after his party's former chief and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi underlined that Trump first announced the ceasefire in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Watch full interview:
#NDTVExclusive | "Kinetic hostility not India's doing": Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) to NDTV's @maryashakil pic.twitter.com/JgVBwmKNpb
— NDTV (@ndtv) May 11, 2025
"I think that's a very unfortunate way of proceeding. I have certainly never seen anything like that in international diplomacy," said the MP from Thiruvananthapuram who had served at the UN.
Mr Tharoor pointed out that foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan have been posting online about their conversations with foreign leaders over the past few days.
"Let me be blunt about it...Jaishankar spoke to Secretary Rubio. Then he (Rubio) spoke with the foreign minister of Pakistan. These kinds of contacts were going on throughout these three or four days of the conflict. But that doesn't mean that India was requesting mediation," he said.
The former diplomat suggested that India's conversations with the US cannot be termed as mediation, but a constructive role played by Washington.
"That's not mediation. That is the Americans trying to play a constructive role. If they or any other country did that, (that's) great. Frankly, the US was not the only country. Jaishankar has been speaking to the foreign ministers of the UAE, UK, or France (as well)," he added.
The fact, he said, is that such conversations often include other nations talking to both sides, in which they apprise each country of the other's side.
"That is not the same as Trump claiming credit for mediation because India would have never sought mediation, doesn't mean mediation, and I think would never accept the idea that we have in any way accepted foreign mediation in a conflict that we are perfectly capable of handling ourselves," added Mr Tharoor.
Trump had congratulated India and Pakistan in a post on his Truth Social platform for the ceasefire that he claimed was mediated by the United States.
"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 on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he wrote on Truth Social.
A day later, he said he was proud of the "strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership" of the two countries for agreeing to the halt in aggression. "I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision," he claimed.
He also offered to work with the two neighbours to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. While an Indian government reaction to his offer is awaited, it may be pointed out that New Delhi has always stressed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and opposed any third-party mediation.
The ceasefire followed three nights of intense cross-border firing and drone and missile attacks from Pakistan after Indian forces carried out Operation Sindoor, striking terror targets deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. With Indian forces bombing Pakistani airfields in retaliation, Pakistan incurred a heavy cost for the provocation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, other auto stocks rally in Japanese stock market as Nikkei jumps 2%; Here's why
Shares of Japanese car manufacturers soared on Wednesday, with Toyota rising by 11 per cent and Honda climbing 9 per cent, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a trade agreement with Japan that involves a 15% tariff. Meanwhile, other auto stocks like Nissan rose more than 7 per cent, and Mazda Motor saw a sharp jump of over 16 per cent. Mitsubishi Motors also climbed more than 12 per cent. South Korean automaker Hyundai's shares increased by over 5 per cent on the news, while Kia recorded a modest rise of 0.2 per cent. On the other hand, Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2.5 per cent to reach 40,731.86 as of 0121 GMT, driven by an 8.4 per cent surge in the Tokyo Stock Exchange's transport equipment index. NHK stated the new 15 per cent tariff rate would apply to Japanese vehicles, though it remains uncertain whether the lower rate will be extended to automakers from other countries. U.S. President Trump had earlier declared a 25 per cent tariff on all imported vehicles on March 26, which took effect on April 2. Auto exports to the U.S. are vital to Japan's economy, accounting for 28.3 per cent of total exports in 2024, as per customs data. On Tuesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had struck the 'largest Deal ever' with Japan, which includes 15 per cent 'reciprocal' tariffs on Japanese goods entering the U.S. Trump also stated that Japan has agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S., with America receiving '90 per cent of the Profits.' Additionally, he mentioned that Japan would open its market to more U.S. products, including cars, trucks, rice, and other agricultural items. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
NDTV
13 minutes ago
- NDTV
Columbia Punishes 80 Students Over Anti-Israel Protests
Columbia University said Tuesday it has issued various punishments, including expulsions and degree revocations, against various students involved in anti-Israel protests on campus. The sanctions, which a student group said targeted nearly 80 people, come as the New York institution negotiates with President Donald Trump's administration to restore $400 million in cut federal funding. Trump has applied intense pressure on the prestigious university and others, accusing them of failing to address alleged anti-Semitism amid nationwide protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza. Columbia, which was the epicenter of the campus protests, has agreed to implement a series of policy reforms in an attempt to regain the federal funding, sparking anger from many students. Fellow Ivy League institution Harvard has also been targeted with billions in funding cuts, but is fighting the pressure campaign in court. The latest sanctions by Columbia stem from a library sit-in this past May, as well as an encampment set up during alumni weekend in spring 2024, the university said in a statement. The library protest disrupted hundreds of students during an exam study period, it said, with punishments including "probation, suspensions (ranging from one year to three years), degree revocations, and expulsions." "The University does not release individual disciplinary results of any student," the statement said. It did not specify which punishments had been issued for the spring 2024 encampment, which occurred after larger protests -- including the occupation of an academic building -- but Columbia said it was "the final set of findings from that period." The student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which calls for the school to cut all financial ties with Israel, said the library-related sanctions "hugely exceed precedent for teach-ins or non-Palestine-related building occupations." "We will not be deterred. We are committed to the struggle for Palestinian liberation," the group said.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Largest trade deal in history': Trump announces ‘massive' trade agreement with Japan - The Economic Times Video
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will make a deal with Japan on LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). While speaking at an event at the White House, Trump added that Japan will form a joint venture with the U.S. for LNG in Alaska. U.S. President Donald Trump added that representatives from the European Union are coming for trade negotiations with the United States on Wednesday (July 23). "We have Europe coming in tomorrow, and the next day, we have some other ones coming in," Trump said after announcing a trade deal with Japan.
