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
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Masterstroke in bad policy making': Priyank Kharge tears into Centre over Online Gaming Bill
As India prepares to introduce a bill prohibiting online money gaming, Congress leader Priyank Kharge criticizes the move as a knee-jerk reaction. He warns of potential revenue loss, job threats, and a decline in foreign investment. Kharge advocates for regulation instead of a ban, citing risks to national security and the growth of unregulated offshore platforms. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As the Centre is slated to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha to prohibit online money gaming today, Congress leader Priyank Kharge termed it as yet another "knee-jerk" move, warning that the move could result in significant loss of tax revenue and threaten thousands of a post on X, Kharge said that the bill could risk billions in foreign investment, while driving users to unregulated offshore platforms rife with money laundering and security threats."Knee jerk blanket ban on Online Real Money Gaming without consulting stakeholders or states is another masterstroke by Modi Sarkar in bad policy making. Here's why: Revenue hit: India earns ₹20,000 Cr annually from GST & income tax via online RMG. The ban means states lose this a revenue stream. Jobs & Startups at risk: 2,000+ gaming startups | 2 lakh+ jobs in IT, AI, design. A ban kills India's gaming talent pool & pushes entrepreneurs abroad. Investments dry up: ₹23,000 Cr FDI in last 5 years. Global investors will pull back if India shuts its own digital industry," he argued that regulation, not prohibition, is the real solution, but accused the government of rushing into policy mistakes without consulting stakeholders."Ecosystem collapse: ₹7,000 Cr spent annually on ads, data centres, sponsorships, cyber security will all be gone overnight. Unintended consequences: Bans don't stop addiction or suicides Instead, they push users to unregulated offshore platforms worth ₹8.2 lakh Cr annually where Government has no control at all. Security risks: Unregulated sites ensures money laundering, terror financing, data theft. Even FATF & Rashtriya Raksha University warn against such risks. Legal mess: The Supreme Court is still deciding whether Centre or States have the power," he Karnataka Minister argued that a blanket ban will give rise to Illegal markets that might threaten national security. "Why the rush to ban now? The solution isn't prohibition. Probable way forward: - Regulating skill-based platforms - Enforcing IT Rules, 2021 - Whitelisting legitimate operators A well balanced regulation will ensure: - Jobs + Revenue - Safer users - National security - Global innovation A blanket ban will not only lead to revenue loss, but will give rise to Illegal markets that might threaten national security and of course, there will be a huge innovation setback. Regulation is the way forward," he said.A bill to promote and regulate the online gaming sector, including e-sports, educational games, and social gaming, and to provide for the appointment of an Authority for coordinated policy support, strategic development, and regulatory oversight of the sector, is slated to be introduced in the Lok Sabha Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill , 2025, is likely to be introduced by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini seeks to prohibit the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion and participation in online money games through any computer resource, mobile device or the internet, particularly where such activities operate across State borders or from foreign bill seeks to protect individuals, especially youth and vulnerable populations, from the adverse social, economic, psychological and privacy-related impacts of such seeks to ensure responsible use of digital technologies and to maintain public order and protect public health.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
India won't take first step to normalise ties, onus on Pakistan: Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor stated that India won't initiate normalizing relations with Pakistan due to repeated betrayals. He urged Pakistan to dismantle terror networks operating from its soil. Tharoor recalled past attempts at outreach that were met with hostility. He cited the 2008 Mumbai attacks as a key example of Pakistan's insincerity. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India no longer has the appetite to take the first step in normalising ties with Pakistan after repeated betrayals, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday, urging Islamabad to demonstrate sincerity by dismantling terror networks operating from its was speaking at the launch of the book "Whither India-Pakistan Relations Today?", an anthology edited by former ambassador Surendra Thiruvananthapuram MP said every Indian attempt at outreach -- from Jawaharlal Nehru 's pact with Liaqat Ali Khan in 1950, to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bus journey to Lahore in 1999, and Narendra Modi 's Lahore visit in 2015 -- had been "betrayed" by hostility from across the border."Given the record of Pakistani behaviour, the onus is on them. They're the ones who have to take the first steps to show some sincerity about dismantling terror infrastructure on their soil."Why can't they be serious about shutting down these terror camps? Everyone knows where they are. The UN committee has a list of 52 names of individuals, organisations and places in Pakistan. It's not that Pakistan doesn't know they exist," Tharoor said, "Shut them down, arrest some of these characters, show some serious intent." India would be more than willing to reciprocate once such action is taken, but won't take the first step now, the Congress leader the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Tharoor said India had provided "overwhelming evidence" of Pakistani involvement, including live intercepts and dossiers, yet "not one mastermind has been prosecuted".He noted that New Delhi showed "extraordinary restraint" after attacks, but subsequent provocations left India with little choice, leading to surgical strikes in 2016 and 'Operation Sindoor'."In my book Pax Indica, which was published in 2012, I had warned that if there was ever another Mumbai-like attack of comparable impact, with clear evidence of Pakistani complicity, the restraint we had shown in 2008 might become impossible and all bets would be off."And indeed, that is exactly what happened. No democratic government, least of all in India with its long record of betrayals by Pakistan, could sit idle while its neighbour assaults its civilians and innocent holidaymakers with impunity," he also stressed that "peace and tranquillity on the borders is indispensable to our national interest", and cited the reconciliation between France and Germany after World War II, as well as the United States' eventual ties with Vietnam, as examples of adversaries turning into discussion was also joined by former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, former Indian ambassador to Pakistan T C A Raghavan, ex-Army chief general Deepak Kapoor and academician Amitabh Mattoo.
The Hindu
13 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Trump imposed tariffs on India to end Russia-Ukraine war, says White House
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) said that U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on India to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. 'The President has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He has taken actions as you seen sanctions on India and other actions as well. He has made himself very clear that he wants to see this war end,' she added. Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) accused India of 'profiteering' by reselling Russian oil while sparing China for the same, saying it has 'diversified inputs of their oil.' The remarks came amid strain in India-U.S. relations after Mr. Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50% on India. This includes 25% for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil that will come into effect from August 27. While replying to a question on CNBC on the different treatment of China and India for purchasing Russian oil, Mr. Bessent said China's oil imports from Russia have increased only 3% post the Russia-Ukraine war, while India's oil imports from Russia have increased over 40%. 'China's importing (Russian oil) is suboptimal. If you go back and look pre- 2022, pre-invasion (of Ukraine by Russia), 13% of China's oil was already coming from Russia; now it's 16%, so China has diversified inputs of their oil,' said Mr. Bessent. Mr. Bessent added that 'less than one per cent' of Indian oil was coming from Russia pre-invasion 'and now I believe it's up to 42%'. 'India is just profiteering; they are reselling... They made 16 billion in excess profits... some of the richest families in India. This is a completely different thing,' added Bessent. He further said that this 'Indian arbitrage, buying cheap oil and reselling it as a product, has just sprung up during the war... is just unacceptable.' Mr. Bessent made similar comments last week ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting. In an interview with Bloomberg, he said if 'things don't go well' between Trump and Putin at the summit meeting, then secondary sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil could go up. India has called the tariffs 'unjustified and unreasonable'. Trump ended India-Pakistan conflict, says White House The White House once again claimed that Mr. Trump has ended the military conflict between India and Pakistan. 'The President is using the might of American strength to demand that respect from our allies, our friends, and our adversaries all around the world,' Ms. Leavitt said at a press briefing. She said that it was seen not only in the progress with Russia and Ukraine but also 'in the closing of seven global conflicts around the world'. 'We've seen it with the end of the conflict between India and Pakistan, which could have resulted in a nuclear war if we had not had a President who believed in the strength and the leverage that comes with the job of being the President of the United States of America,' Ms. Leavitt said. In an answer to another question, Ms. Leavitt said that Mr. Trump used trade 'in a very powerful way as leverage' to bring the India-Pakistan conflict to an end. Since May 10, when Mr. Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a 'full and immediate' ceasefire after a 'long night' of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 40 times that he 'helped settle' the tensions between India and Pakistan. India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in Parliament that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor.
