The Congress party has termed the ceasefire announcement between Pakistan and India made by Donald Trump as shocking and questioned whether the Government of India has accepted such mediation. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, senior Congress leader and General Secretary Sachin Pilot said that recent developments have escalated rapidly, and the ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media has surprised the world.
Sachin Pilot stated that this might be the first time a U.S. President has announced a ceasefire via social media. Previously, the U.S. State Department had said this was not their issue. However, just two days later, the U.S. President, Vice President, and Secretary of State all spoke about a ceasefire, and subsequently, both Pakistan and India confirmed it.
The Congress leader said, “This is a domestic issue, and giving it an international color is unacceptable. If any statement from the U.S. includes a mention of Kashmir, that is extremely sensitive and concerning. The U.S. President also claimed that it is a centuries-old issue, whereas in reality, it has only been 76 years since the Partition of India.”
He further said that such interference and hints of meiation from the U.S. strengthen the perception that there is an attempt to turn the India-Pakistan dispute into a global issue once again. He questioned whether India had accepted this mediation, and if so, under what conditions?
Pilot demanded that the government convene a special session of Parliament on the Pulwama attack and subsequent developments, so the country can present a united front to the international community. He recalled that in 1994, during the Congress government, a resolution was passed in Parliament regarding the reclamation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and said that it is time to reaffirm that resolution and send a clear message to the world.
Sachin Pilot expressed condolences to the families of civilians who lost their lives due to shelling or terrorist attacks near the border. He saluted the bravery of the Indian armed forces and said, “We are proud of our army, which has always defended the nation by putting their lives on the line.”
Pilot added that the government should take all political parties into confidence, as every party has set aside differences to support the government in its actions against terrorism. He emphasized that when the next all-party meeting is held, the Prime Minister himself should be present to ensure full confidence among all stakeholders.
He noted that even after the ceasefire, violations from the Pakistani side continued, casting doubt on the credibility of the announcement. He questioned how future violations would be prevented if firing continued despite the ceasefire.
Pilot said that Pakistan’s political and military structure is completely different from India’s, making it difficult to trust such ceasefire agreements unless there are clear guarantees. He urged the government to answer all these questions and clarify whether the ceasefire was truly the result of international pressure or mediation.
He concluded by stating that for decades, India’s foreign policy has been very clear—there was no room for mediation, negotiations, or third-party involvement, regardless of who was Prime Minister or in government. But after the U.S. statement, all of this has now come into question.
“Therefore, I appeal to the government to immediately convene an all-party meeting. And we are immensely proud of the recent achievements of our brave soldiers. The courage, strength, skill, precision, and determination with which our forces taught Pakistan a lesson is a matter of national pride,” Pilot said.
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