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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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
