India’s refusal to entertain any third-party mediation in its dealings with Pakistan is not stubbornness, it’s strategic clarity.
There is a reason why India continues to stand its ground when it comes to dialogue with Pakistan. Not out of diplomatic vanity, nor to stonewall peace, but because dialogue, when overshadowed by the spectre of terror, is not diplomacy. It is delusion.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reminded the world that New Delhi remains committed to bilateral dialogue—but only when cross-border terrorism ceases.
And yet, in a now-familiar manoeuvre, Pakistan has attempted to internationalise the matter again, reportedly seeking Saudi Arabia’s involvement as a third-party mediator. The intent is clear: shift the focus, reframe the narrative and evade accountability. India, rightly, has refused to play along.
To understand this position, one must return to the principle that governs it: bilateralism. Enshrined in the 1972 Simla Agreement and reaffirmed in subsequent moments of crisis, the notion that India and Pakistan must resolve their disputes bilaterally is not just diplomatic etiquette—it is an assertion of sovereignty.
When the US President Trump claimed credit for the ceasefire, India was swift to clarify that it was not the handiwork of Washington, but a quiet understanding between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Well, extended applause is irrelevant if internal resolve is absent.
59 Members, 32 Countries - All You Need to Know about the Operation Sindoor Delgation
As part of a major diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has announced that 59 political leaders from across the spectrum will visit 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels.
The mission aims to convey India’s firm stance against terrorism in light of recent events and showcases a rare bipartisan consensus on national security.
The initiative, coordinated by the Centre, includes seven delegations, each comprising seven to eight political leaders, supported by former diplomats.
Of the 59 leaders, 31 belong to the ruling NDA while 20 come from non-NDA parties, reflecting a broad political coalition. The delegations include members from the BJP, Congress, DMK, JDU, NCP, Shiv Sena, and other parties.
Notable names leading the delegations are Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), and Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena). Congress had recommended four names, but only Anand Sharma was accepted. Other Congress leaders such as Manish Tewari, Amar Singh, and Salman Khurshid are also part of the delegations.
Importantly, each of the seven delegations includes at least one Muslim representative, underlining India’s inclusive approach to its diplomatic messaging.
Each time peace appears within reach, violence intervenes. And yet, India has kept the door to dialogue ajar—never shut, but grounded.
As Prime Minister Modi has firmly stated on multiple occasions, “Terror and talks cannot go together.” The message is not one of hostility, but of principle and preconditions: dismantle terror, then we will talk.
In this context, Pakistan’s attempt to bring in Saudi Arabia is not just unnecessary—it is inappropriate. Saudi Arabia is no neutral arbiter; it has deep-rooted ties to Pakistan, both religious and strategic.
To suggest that it could act as a dispassionate broker is to stretch credibility. But more fundamentally, India does not require a broker—not when the matter is one of national security. Not when the house is still burning.
During the Kargil War in 1999, backchannel diplomacy played a significant role in de-escalating the conflict and ultimately leading to the withdrawal of Pakistani troops.
Mediation, especially in this region, has often served only to cloud accountability and offer both sides the illusion of progress, while leaving the core issues untouched.
Pakistan may knock on the doors of Riyadh and Washington, but India will remain steadfast. No third-party interventions. No diluted demands. It is not a temporary peace that India demands, but rather a pending human rights call and a permanent solution to terrorism.
Peace, after all, is not performed. It is prepared for. And India is simply waiting for Pakistan to do the same.
The moment now calls for a structural change to maintain sustainable peace between the two nations.
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