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MEA reaffirmed its longstanding position that there is “no space for third-party mediation” in bilateral issues between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (left), US President Donald Trump (centre) and Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir at a meeting.
India reacted to the Oval Office meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump, reiterating its long-standing position that there is “no space for third-party mediation” in bilateral issues between India and Pakistan.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had “taken note” of the meeting.
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“India’s consistent position has been clear and well known- there is no role for any third party in matters concerning India and Pakistan. All outstanding issues are to be resolved bilaterally,” the ministry said.
The meeting comes as Donald Trump told the United Nations that he had “ended a war between India and Pakistan,” counting it among seven conflicts he claimed to have resolved since taking office in January. Donald Trump suggested that his actions had saved thousands of lives and argued that such interventions merited the Nobel Peace Prize, though he added that he was “happy even without it.”
India, however, has firmly rejected this characterization, insisting that its decision to end Operation Sindoor- a limited military action launched against Pakistan- was taken independently after Islamabad’s request, not under US pressure.
Moreover, New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed any suggestion of external involvement in its disputes with Pakistan, particularly on Kashmir. Successive Indian governments have emphasized that dialogue- if and when it occurs- must be direct and strictly bilateral.
Pakistan’s Pitch To US
During his White House engagement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited American companies to invest in Pakistan, highlighting agriculture, technology, mining and energy as priority sectors. His office said the Oval Office talks, which also touched on efforts to end the war in Gaza, reflected a “further warming” of US-Pakistan relations after years of strain.
Donald Trump praised both Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir during the meeting. “He is a very great guy, and so is the prime minister,” Donald Trump said.
The discussions marked the first time a Pakistani civilian leader was hosted at the White House since Donald Trump’s meeting with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019. However, Asim Munir had already met Donald Trump earlier this year at the White House- without Shehbaz Sharif present.
Delhi, India, India
September 26, 2025, 17:03 IST
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