Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has acknowledged that India never accepted any third-party mediation in ceasefire talks, directly contradicting former US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had brokered a truce after Operation Sindoor.
In an interview, Dar said a ceasefire offer was conveyed through Washington, but New Delhi insisted the matter remain strictly bilateral. “India never agreed to any third-party mediation,” Dar stated, adding that while Pakistan remains open to dialogue, there has been no response from India.
Dar’s remarks came when asked about the possibility of ongoing negotiations and third-party involvement. He revealed that when Pakistan raised Trump’s claim with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he clarified that India has always maintained its position of treating the issue as bilateral.
Trump, who had first declared a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on his platform Truth Social, has repeatedly taken credit for what he described as a deal reached through his mediation.
India, however, has consistently rejected the notion of external involvement, stating the understanding was reached only after Pakistan requested a halt following India’s counter-strikes under Operation Sindoor.
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Dar further disclosed that Washington had conveyed an offer in May for a potential dialogue between the two neighbours at a neutral venue.
“When the ceasefire offer came on May 10, Rubio told me that dialogue between India and Pakistan would happen soon at an independent location. By July 25, when I asked him about it, he said India insists it is a bilateral issue,” Dar said.
He added that while Pakistan does not object to bilateral talks, they must be comprehensive.
“We don’t mind third-party involvement, but India has categorically been stating it’s a bilateral matter. We don’t mind bilateral, but the dialogues have to be comprehensive, on terrorism, trade, economy, Jammu and Kashmir, all subjects that we have discussed earlier,” Dar explained.
The minister stressed that Pakistan was not seeking favours but remained committed to peace. “India says it is a bilateral issue. We are not begging for anything. We are a peace-loving country, and we believe dialogue is the way forward; but it takes two to tango,” he added.
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