India-Pak understanding on ceasefire reached bilaterally: Jaishankar

New Delhi, May 22: Asserting that the ceasefire agreement was directly negotiated between India and Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday made it explicitly clear that there was no third-party intervention involved in ending hostilities between the two countries earlier this month.
The External Affairs Minister in an interview to a Dutch news channel said, “The cessation of firing and the ceasefire agreement was directly negotiated between India and Pakistan. We made it very clear to the international community not only United States that if Pakistan wants to stop firing, their general should call our general and tell us. That’s how it happened their DGMO called his counterpart here and an understanding was arrived at.”
He said that not only the United States, many countries were asking India to end firing “but our stand was very clear that Pakistan should come forward and ask for it,” he added.
The Minister pointed a direct finger at Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir for what he called his “hardline and extremist” outlook, linking it to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead.
“This was not just a terror attack. This was an attempt to strike at the heart of Kashmir’s economy and harmony. Religion was deliberately used to create division and fear,” Jaishankar said, underscoring that the Pakistan Army leadership is driven by an “extreme religious outlook,” which, according to him, directly influences actions on the ground.
The victims were targeted in front of their family members after ascertaining their faith. “It was a barbaric assault aimed at crippling Kashmir’s flourishing tourism sector and create a communal discord,” he added.
Responding to a question whether India and Pakistan could forge a new friendship, particularly in light of China’s growing influence and desire for regional stability, Jaishankar said, “You don’t choose between security and economic prosperity. Today, many in the world are realizing that you must be prepared for both,” he remarked.
He also offered a broader strategic perspective, reflecting on the historical conditioning of Western powers who had become used to a relatively peaceful post-WWII world. “We have had to deal with difficult neighbours—China and Pakistan. We have faced continuous terrorism from across the border. The world is only now experiencing a reality we’ve long endured,” he said, adding, “India has always approached its regional challenges with a sense of realism. It has been a harsh and nasty world for us. Europeans were insulated for decades. But today, the global community is going through its own reality check.” (KNO)