US contacted India, but ceasefire with Pakistan was bilaterally negotiated: Jaishankar
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has clarified that the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor was the result of direct negotiations between the two countries, despite the United States having reached out during the conflict.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS during his visit to the Netherlands, Jaishankar acknowledged that US Secretary of State Rubio and Vice President Vance had contacted Indian leadership. However, he emphasized that the decision to halt military action was made bilaterally.
“The US did call up. They were concerned, like many others. But the cessation of firing and military action was something negotiated directly between India and Pakistan,” Jaishankar stated.
Refuting earlier claims by former US President Donald Trump that he had mediated the ceasefire, Jaishankar reiterated that Pakistan had first communicated its willingness to cease hostilities via a hotline on May 10. India responded accordingly.
“We have a mechanism to talk to each other. It was the Pakistani army that sent a message that they were ready to stop firing,” he said.
On the broader issue of Kashmir, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's stance that it is an integral part of the country. He described the area under Pakistani control as “illegally occupied” since 1947-48.
“No country negotiates a part of its own territory. Kashmir is part of India,” he said, adding that discussions with Pakistan should focus on when it plans to vacate the occupied region.
Jaishankar also highlighted Pakistan’s continued use of cross-border terrorism as a pressure tactic, describing it as part of a radical and extremist strategy by Islamabad’s leadership, particularly the military.
Commenting on India's recent security concerns, Jaishankar said the Pahalgam terror attack—which killed 26 tourists—was designed to destabilize Kashmir’s tourism-based economy and incite religious discord. He linked the attack to Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, asserting that the group’s command centres were targeted by Indian forces on May 7.
“India faces more serious security threats than Europe. That’s why we must prioritise national security,” he said, while expressing confidence in India’s economic fundamentals and demographic advantages.
Jaishankar dismissed Trump's claim of using trade leverage to avoid nuclear conflict, saying that peace and diplomacy remain India’s preferred path, but without external mediation.
“This is something between us and the Pakistanis,” Jaishankar concluded.
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Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticizes Centre for steep hike in commercial LPG price
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has slammed the BJP government in the Centre for the hike in the price of commercial LPG, saying the sudden rise of the fuel rate by Rs 993 a cylinder has hit the common man hard.
Critically commenting that this was expected of the Centre after elections to five states, Rao posted in Kannada on his ‘X’ account on Saturday that the people have been shown only the trailer and, the real struggle is yet to begin.
“Since there is no election in any state, there will certainly be major hikes in the rates of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG in barely a few days,” he has predicted.
The minister has further tweeted, “The rate of commercial LPG has gone up to Rs 3,152 per cylinder, which will hit the hotel industry greatly. Ironically, the direct impact of the hike will be on customers of hotel.”
He pointed out that, earlier, the price used to be hiked by approximately Rs 50 and Rs 100 a cylinder. “This time, the rate has been shot up by Rs 993. What do we call this except daylight robbery? Can this be the ‘Acche Din’ that the BJP has been promising?” Rao asked mockingly.
He also questioned the cause for BJP members’ silence for the rate hike, reminding that the party always ‘threw a tantrum’ when a non-BJP government does so even at a minor level. “Does this reflect their fear of ‘Vishwaguru’ Modi? Is it the party’s sheer disregard for the welfare of the people?” he has questioned.
ಊಹಿಸಿದಂತೆಯೇ ಪಂಚರಾಜ್ಯ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಬಳಿಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆಯ ಛಾಟಿ ಬೀಸಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ. ಕಮರ್ಷಿಯಲ್ ಸಿಲಿಂಡರ್ ಬೆಲೆಯನ್ನು ಏಕಾಏಕಿ ₹993 ಏರಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಮರ್ಮಘಾತ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಮುಗಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದೇ ಭಾರಿ ₹993 ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಆಘಾತ ತಂದಿದೆ.…
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) May 2, 2026
