In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed that India categorically rejected third-party mediation during Operation Sindoor, characterizing all issues with Pakistan as entirely bilateral.
Dar recalled that India had flatly denied any American involvement in mediating the ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations on May 10, emphasizing that the truce was reached after direct discussions at the DGMO level, despite US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of credit for the deal.
The minister also emphasized that Pakistan will not “beg” for talks, stating that “it takes two to tango” and presenting talks as an issue of equality and reciprocity.
His remarks aimed to reinforce Islamabad’s diplomatic stance on key issues, including Kashmir, while casting Pakistan as amenable to dialogue but unwilling to compromise on its agenda. This highlighted Islamabad’s attempt to place the blame for the impasse on India.
Dar claimed that when he brought up the topic of mediation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 10 and again during a bilateral meeting in Washington on July 25, he was informed that New Delhi was against outside intervention and reiterated its bilateral position.
India carried out precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as part of Operation Sindoor, which was sparked by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
With Trump claiming that US intervention avoided a nuclear confrontation, the military escalation has stoked fears of a conflict that was spiraling out of control. However, India denied such allegations, reaffirming its policy of managing matters pertaining to Pakistan on its own.
Dar emphasized that any engagement must be broad, covering topics such as terrorism, trade, the economy, and the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, even as he acknowledged India’s constant bilateral policy and reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to talks. He went on to say that Islamabad will not “beg” for negotiations, claiming that New Delhi was equally responsible and that “it takes two to tango.”
“There is nothing we are pleading for. We are delighted and eager to engage in dialogue with any nation. Although it’s clear that it takes two to tango, we think that discussion is the way to proceed. Therefore, we cannot compel India to engage in discussion unless it wants to. We don’t want to push the conversation,” Dar continued.
His comments draw attention to the sharp differences between India and Pakistan’s stances, with Islamabad seeking a broad, organized engagement with international awareness and New Delhi prioritizing bilateral, issue-by-issue handling.
