Islamabad/New Delhi, September 17, 2025: Pakistanās Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has confirmed that India has categorically rejected any U.S. role in mediating talks between the two neighbours, reiterating its long-standing stance that all discussions with Pakistan must remain strictly bilateral.
Dar revealed the details in an interview with Al Jazeera, where he recounted a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July this year. According to Dar, Rubio informed him that India had made it clear it views dialogue with Islamabad as a ābilateral issueā and does not welcome third-party involvement.
āI asked Secretary Rubio about the earlier discussion regarding a possible dialogue,ā Dar said. āHe told me that India says it is a bilateral matter.ā
Background of Mediation Claims
Earlier in May, Rubio had reportedly indicated that talks could soon take place at an independent, neutral venue, offering U.S. support to facilitate dialogue. However, during Darās follow-up meeting in Washington in July, the U.S. Secretary of State reiterated Indiaās firm rejection of external mediation.
The comments also come after claims by American officials that Washington played a role in helping de-escalate tensions during Operation Sindoor. The operation, conducted in May, was Indiaās counter-terrorism response to an April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. India said the attackers were linked to groups operating from Pakistani soil.
Following the strikes, U.S. officials suggested that they had engaged both countries to prevent further escalation. India, however, has consistently denied these accounts, asserting that no third-party mediation occurred and that any communication with Pakistan was handled directly.
Indiaās Stance on Bilateralism
Indiaās foreign policy position on this issue has remained unchanged for decades. Successive governments in New Delhi have maintained that disputes with Pakistan, including those concerning Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and ceasefire violations, must be resolved through direct bilateral dialogue without external involvement.
The Ministry of External Affairs has frequently reiterated this point in response to global mediation offers. In recent years, India has also linked any dialogue with Pakistan to Islamabadās responsibility to curb terrorism directed at Indian targets.
Analysts note that Ishaq Darās admission effectively reinforces Indiaās long-standing stance, weakening U.S. assertions of its behind-the-scenes role in South Asian peace efforts.
Pakistanās Position
Despite acknowledging Indiaās rejection of external involvement, Dar maintained that Islamabad remains open to dialogue under the right conditions.
āWe donāt mind mediation, but India has categorically been stating itās a bilateral matter,ā he said.
Dar added that Pakistanās preferred approach would include comprehensive discussions covering trade, border security, Kashmir, and regional cooperation, not just limited to ceasefire arrangements. āDialogue must be sincere and meaningful,ā he stressed.
Implications for Future Talks
The exchange highlights the continuing diplomatic challenges in restarting formal IndiaāPakistan talks. While Pakistan signals flexibility toward mediation, Indiaās insistence on bilateralism leaves little scope for third-party actors like the United States to influence negotiations.
Observers believe this divergence could shape the regionās geopolitical dynamics. The U.S. may continue to project its interest in South Asian stability, but Indiaās categorical position ensures that New Delhi and Islamabad will decide the framework of any talks on their own terms.
For now, Darās comments serve as a reminder that despite high-profile claims of American involvement, the road to dialogue between India and Pakistan remains firmly and perhaps exclusively bilateral.
