External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday remarked that while the United States and Pakistan share a long history, Washington often “overlooks that history.” Speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, he recalled that Osama bin Laden, one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, was found in Pakistan’s Abbottabad military garrison town in 2011.
Responding to questions about closer U.S.–Pakistan ties — including U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent outreach to Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir — Jaishankar said such developments were not new.
“They have a history with each other. And they have a history of overlooking that history,” he said to applause. “When you look at the kind of certificates sometimes given to the Pakistani military, it is worth remembering that this was the same military in whose backyard Osama bin Laden was discovered. Often, international politics is driven by convenience, tactics, or other calculations.”
Balancing US–India Relations
At the same time, Jaishankar emphasized that India views its relationship with the U.S. through a broader and more strategic lens. “I respond to immediate challenges, but always keeping in mind the larger structural strengths of our relationship and the confidence that comes from it. I know what my strengths are, and the importance of the partnership. That is what guides me,” he said.
On Operation Sindoor and Ceasefire Claims
Addressing U.S. President Trump’s repeated claims that Washington mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar reiterated that the decision to cease hostilities was taken bilaterally between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“It is a fact that phone calls were made at the time — by the U.S. and by other countries. This is not unusual; I’ve said openly that every American call I received is available on my X account. In today’s interdependent world, it is normal for countries to reach out when conflicts occur. I too have made such calls, whether during Israel–Iran tensions or Russia–Ukraine,” he said.
He stressed, however, that external calls cannot be equated with mediation. “It is one thing for countries to call. It is quite another to assert that an outcome negotiated between India and Pakistan was not in fact negotiated between India and Pakistan. The ceasefire decision was taken between us and Pakistan,” Jaishankar clarified. (Source: NDTV)
