EAM Jaishankar chairing the Consultative Committee Meeting of MEA, May 26, 2025.
Credit: X/@DrSJaishankar
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told a Parliamentary panel that Pakistan was informed about Operation Sindoor only after the strike and his remarks were “twisted” and “misrepresented” to suggest that the neighbour was informed prior to the military action, sources said.
Responding to questions from MPs at a meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs, sources said Jaishankar insisted that there was “no interference” by the United States in the ceasefire decision, which was taken after talks were held between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) on a request from the Pakistan side.
He told the MPs that he did not speak with any Pakistani official and whatever interactions India had with Pakistan during this period was between the DGMOs. He said the United States was urging India to speak with Pakistan but they were told that terror and talks would not go together, sources quoted the minister as saying.
Questions were raised in the meeting, especially by Congress MPs, about US President Donald Trump's recurring remarks on ceasefire, allegations regarding prior information to Pakistan, Indus Water Treaty, diplomatic outreach by India, hyphenation of India and Pakistan and IMF aid to Pakistan as well as Pakistan's growing relationship with China.
“Discussed Operation Sindoor and India's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Underlined the importance of sending a strong and united message in that regard,” Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting, which was attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and senior MPs like Congress’ K C Venugopal and Gurjeet Singh Aujla and DMK's N Mohd Abdullah.
Amid Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accusing Jaishankar of providing prior information to Pakistan by quoting a line from his media interaction, the minister told the MPs that his words were “twisted” and “misrepresented” on social media and that he never said that Pakistan was informed earlier.
The DGMO had informed his Pakistani counterpart that if they would fire, India would fire back, sources quoted Jaishankar as saying. He also said the targeted strikes at terror camps hit the morale of Pakistani forces.
Sources said the minister informed the panel that only the DGMO spoke with Pakistan and "no other person" from India had contacted anyone from the Pakistani side.
The minister also sought the cooperation of MPs in "exposing" Pakistan across the world while explaining the rationale behind sending multi-party delegations of MPs to various countries to campaign against Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism.