Congress says clarification on whether the government accepts third-party mediation in Kashmir

The pilot of Congress leader Sachin addressed the media on May 11, 2025 at the All-Indian Congress Committee Office in New Delhi. Image source: Sushil Kumar Verma

Congress asked the government for clarification on Sunday (May 11, 2025) the day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire,” ahead of any such statement from any country. The party also criticized the attempts to “internationalize”.

Congress also requested that the special session of the parliament should reiterate the House’s resolution of 1994 to recapture Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Congress also compared the current situation with the 1971 Indian-Pakistan War, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Mr. Trump’s announcement before the two countries officially announced. After Mr. Trump posted on X, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar announced that India and Pakistan have learned to stop all shooting and military operations on land, air and oceans and take effect immediately.

Party Secretary-General Sachin said at a press conference at Congress headquarters that the “cease-fire” statement surprised everyone because it was the first time that a third country announced on behalf of India and Pakistan and questioned the United States’ bid for the “mixed species” of the two countries.

“Trying to internationalize the problem between India and Pakistan. This is the first time it has happened,” he said, asserting that the government must send clarifications while bringing confidence to the state and all parties involved.

“In the case of an announcement of a ceasefire, and what guarantees are, these things will not be repeated, as there is no credibility (violation) after yesterday’s events. How do we believe them, and the guarantees that such developments will not happen again,” Mr Pilot asked.

Also read: India-Pakistan ceasefire updated on May 11, 2025

Congress leaders say it is also important to note what U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media post, where he made a statement in Kashmir, where the government should articulate its position.

“Kashmir is a bilateral issue and I don’t think it’s appropriate to try to internationalize it. In 1994, the parliament passed a unanimous resolution to retake the POK. Now is the time to repeat it.”

“It should be clearly stated that this is a bilateral issue and no country, including the United States, should have room for intervention,” Mr Pilot said, adding that India’s foreign policy is very clear in areas where there is no scope for mediation.

The pilot said the Indian government received unprecedented support from all parties and people after the Pahargam attack. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should convene a party-wide meeting to clarify all these issues.

He further recalled that during the 1971 war, when the United States said they deployed the Seventh Fleet in the Gulf of Bengal, the then-led government led by Indira Gandhi continued to move forward and did things in the highest national interest. “We remember the government where national interests were supreme.”

The party’s Secretary General (Newsletter) Jairam Ramesh also posted on X, “The Nixon-Kissinger duo sent the U.S. Navy Task Force of the Seventh Fleet, led by the Bay of Bengal nuclear weapons business enterprises, into the Bay of Bengal Indirira Gandhi.