External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the credit for the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan goes to the Indian military, not the United States. In an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Jaishankar clearly stated that the decision to stop firing was made directly by military commanders from both sides.
When asked if the world should thank America for the ceasefire, Jaishankar replied, "The cessation of firing was agreed between the military commanders of both sides through direct contact. The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan's main airbases and air defence system. So who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop."
On 7 May, India carried out airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. This operation, named Operation Sindoor, focused on destroying terror infrastructure. Pakistan responded with drone attacks targeting Indian military and civilian areas.
India retaliated strongly, damaging key Pakistani military sites. Just days later, on 10 May, Pakistani military officials contacted their Indian counterparts to agree to halt military operations. Despite claims by the Donald Trump administration that the US played a major role in ending the conflict, India has maintained that Washington’s role was limited to expressing concern.
Jaishankar was also asked how close India and Pakistan came to a nuclear conflict. He replied, "Very, very far away. I'm frankly astonished by your question. We had terrorist targets. Our actions were measured, careful, and non-escalatory. After that, Pakistan opened fire. We responded by showing we could disable their air defence systems. Then the firing stopped, at their request."
He also added that he finds it troubling that the world often links any conflict in the region directly to nuclear danger.
"At no point was a nuclear level reached. There is a narrative as if everything that happens in our part of the world leads directly to a nuclear problem. That disturbs me a lot because it encourages terrible activities like terrorism. If anything, much more is happening with the nuclear issue in your part of the world," EAM Jaishankar said.
When asked if the world should thank America for the ceasefire, Jaishankar replied, "The cessation of firing was agreed between the military commanders of both sides through direct contact. The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan's main airbases and air defence system. So who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop."
On 7 May, India carried out airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. This operation, named Operation Sindoor, focused on destroying terror infrastructure. Pakistan responded with drone attacks targeting Indian military and civilian areas.
India retaliated strongly, damaging key Pakistani military sites. Just days later, on 10 May, Pakistani military officials contacted their Indian counterparts to agree to halt military operations. Despite claims by the Donald Trump administration that the US played a major role in ending the conflict, India has maintained that Washington’s role was limited to expressing concern.
Jaishankar was also asked how close India and Pakistan came to a nuclear conflict. He replied, "Very, very far away. I'm frankly astonished by your question. We had terrorist targets. Our actions were measured, careful, and non-escalatory. After that, Pakistan opened fire. We responded by showing we could disable their air defence systems. Then the firing stopped, at their request."
He also added that he finds it troubling that the world often links any conflict in the region directly to nuclear danger.
"At no point was a nuclear level reached. There is a narrative as if everything that happens in our part of the world leads directly to a nuclear problem. That disturbs me a lot because it encourages terrible activities like terrorism. If anything, much more is happening with the nuclear issue in your part of the world," EAM Jaishankar said.
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