At House panel hearing, Jaishankar lays down line: Informed Pak after terror bases struck

Speaking to reporters on May 15, Jaishankar had said, “At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorists’ infrastructure. We are not striking at the military. So the military has an option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice.”

The statement was picked up by Gandhi and the Congress, which attacked the EAM and his foreign policy decisions regarding the ongoing conflict with Pakistan.

EAM S Jaishankar chairs the meeting on Monday. (PTI)

Soon after, the Centre clarified that Jaishankar had said “India had warned Pakistan at the start, which is clearly the early phase after Operation Sindoor’s commencement”.

Jaishankar reiterated this stand at Monday’s meeting, where he is learnt to have said that the communication was after the commencement of Operation Sindoor.

Briefing the Consultative Committee of Parliament on External Affairs, headed by Jaishankar, the Union Minister clarified that his remarks were misinterpreted, it is learnt. The meeting was attended by Minister of State (External Affairs) Kirti Vardhan Singh, senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, Samajwadi Party’s Jaya Bachchan and DMK’s Thiru Dayanidhi Maran among others.

After the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X: “Chaired the Consultative Committee Meeting of MEA this morning in Delhi. Discussed Op 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.”

The Indian Express has learnt that Jaishankar told the committee that if Pakistan violates the ceasefire or terror incidents occur, military action by India will resume.

The Congress members are learnt to have asked Jaishankar about the alleged hyphenation of India and Pakistan. The party leaders also questioned the EAM on the IMF (International Monetary Fund) loan to Pakistan and the abstention of India and about Pakistan and China’s relationship in the wake of the conflict. The Congress members, it is learnt, also asked about the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan being announced by US President Donald Trump and the role of the western power in the negotiations.

Jaishankar is learnt to have told the panel that the discussions on the ceasefire were bilateral in nature, there was no involvement of the US, and that it was initiated by Pakistan.

He told the panel that India agreed to the ceasefire at Pakistan’s DGMO request, it is learnt.

On the Indus Water Treaty, Jaishankar is learnt to have told the panel that details related to the treaty cannot be divulged at this time.