New Delhi: The Indian government firmly rejected claims by China that Beijing played a role in mediating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year. Government sources, as quoted in various reports, reiterated that the truce reached in May was a result of direct bilateral engagement between the two countries, with no third-party intervention.
“We have already refuted such claims. On bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, there is no role for a third party. Our position has been clarified on several occasions in the past that the India-Pakistan ceasefire was agreed to directly between the DGMOs of the two countries,” the source told India Today.
According to officials in New Delhi, the ceasefire understanding reached on May 10 following the military confrontation — triggered by the Operation Sindoor campaign — was negotiated directly between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan. They emphasised that Pakistan had requested a ceasefire and that India agreed after due consideration, but no external power acted as mediator.
The clarification comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi publicly asserted that Beijing had mediated “hotspot issues” around the world in 2025, including tensions between India and Pakistan. In a statement earlier this week, Wang said China had adopted an “objective and neutral approach” to promote lasting peace and listed several conflicts where Beijing claimed it had played a role.
India’s position is consistent with its long-standing stance that bilateral disputes with Pakistan do not involve third parties. Officials noted that New Delhi has repeatedly refused similar claims in the past, underlining that India–Pakistan issues must be resolved directly between the two sides.
The matter has gained wider attention given that US President Donald Trump has also claimed credit for helping secure the ceasefire earlier in 2025 — assertions New Delhi likewise dismissed at the time.
While China’s outreach as a peace broker marks a rare diplomatic narrative shift, India’s official response underscores its commitment to maintaining sovereign control over how conflicts with Pakistan are negotiated and resolved.
