Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar Acknowledges U.S. Role in Reducing Pakistan-India Tensions

New Delhi:Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has acknowledged the involvement of the United States in efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and India, marking a significant shift from earlier Indian official statements denying any foreign mediation.

In an interview, Jaishankar admitted that **the U.S. had maintained communication with both Islamabad and New Delhi**, alongside several other countries that had expressed concern and engaged through diplomatic channels.

“It’s natural that when two nations are in conflict, other countries try to reach out and express their concern,” Jaishankar said. “However, as far as the ceasefire is concerned, it was a direct agreement between Pakistan and India.”

This contrasts sharply with earlier remarks by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who told a parliamentary committee that the ceasefire was **purely bilateral** and **denied any role by the U.S.**, specifically rejecting claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Misri had stated, “Trump did not seek our permission to intervene. He simply inserted himself into the matter and made claims on the public stage.”

Meanwhile, **Donald Trump has publicly claimed credit for mediating the ceasefire**. On May 10, he posted on his social media platform, **Truth Social**, stating that **he personally helped broker peace between Pakistan and India**, a claim that stirred controversy and prompted denials from Indian officials.

This latest acknowledgment by Jaishankar adds weight to speculation that **backchannel diplomacy led by Washington played a role in de-escalating tensions**, despite public narratives suggesting otherwise.