Vikram Misri Clarifies India-Pakistan Ceasefire: "No Nuclear Signaling, Bilateral Decision"

New Delhi | May 19, 2025

In a significant development amid regional tensions, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on Monday, clarifying India's position during the recent military conflict with Pakistan.

Misri stated unequivocally that the hostilities between India and Pakistan were strictly conventional and that there was no nuclear signaling from either side. This statement comes amid rising public and political speculation about the escalation risks during the recent skirmishes.

"The conflict remained within the conventional framework, and at no point was there any nuclear posturing or signaling from our side or from Pakistan," Misri told the committee, according to sources present during the two-hour closed-door briefing chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

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No U.S. Involvement in Ceasefire

Misri also addressed international media reports suggesting third-party mediation in the ceasefire that followed. He firmly denied any United States role in brokering the agreement, directly countering U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that Washington facilitated the truce.

"The ceasefire agreement reached on May 10 was a result of bilateral military and diplomatic communication. No third country, including the United States, played any part in this decision," Misri stated.

This marks a clear assertion of India's diplomatic autonomy and adherence to bilateral mechanisms when dealing with its neighbors.

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On Pakistan’s Use of Chinese Military Equipment

Misri downplayed the military significance of Chinese-origin platforms used by Pakistan during the conflict. He informed the panel that Indian forces had successfully neutralized key Pakistani airbases, rendering any advantage from Chinese equipment ineffective.

"Our armed forces responded with precision. The platforms may have been advanced, but their impact was limited due to India's preemptive targeting strategies," Misri explained.

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Reinforcing India's Strategic Stability Doctrine

The high-level committee meeting included members from all major political parties and aimed to ensure transparency and political consensus on foreign policy matters during high-tension events.

Misri’s message was clear: India continues to prefer conventional means of warfare, bilateral resolutions, and strategic restraint, rejecting both nuclear brinkmanship and foreign interference.

"Our doctrine is based on strategic stability and regional peace, not provocation. We have made that clear through both our actions and communication," Misri told the committee.

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Background

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated earlier this month following a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC). The operation led to heightened military alertness on both sides, before a ceasefire was announced on May 10, 2025.