Sachin Pilot Demands All-Party Meeting, Clarity on India’s Position
New Delhi, May 11 — The Congress on Sunday demanded a clear response from the central government over the United States' recent announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, questioning whether India has allowed third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue.Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the move by the US, including references to Kashmir and calls for neutral-ground talks, was “unprecedented” and raised serious concerns over India's foreign policy stance.
“We were all surprised after the ceasefire was announced by the US President through social media,” Pilot said. “This is the first time such an attempt has been made to internationalise the Kashmir issue and hyphenate India with Pakistan again.”
Calls for Special Parliament Session and PM-Led Meeting
Pilot urged the government to convene a special session of Parliament and an all-party meeting chaired by the prime minister to clarify the country's position in light of these developments.“There must be complete transparency. The nation and all political parties must be taken into confidence. Has there been any shift in India’s position regarding Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which was resolved in 1994 as an integral part of India?” he questioned.
India Reiterates No Third-Party Role in Kashmir
In response to the US announcements, government sources reaffirmed that India does not accept any third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue. According to them, the only issue is Pakistan vacating territory it has occupied illegally.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had earlier declared that India and Pakistan had reached an understanding to cease all military actions on land, sea, and air with immediate effect. However, Pilot questioned the conditions behind this understanding and the credibility of such declarations in light of subsequent violations.
Criticism of US Statements and Mischaracterisation
The Congress leader also criticised the US leadership, specifically President Joe Biden, for suggesting that India and Pakistan had been fighting for “thousands of years,” saying such remarks were historically inaccurate and detrimental.Pilot cautioned against attempts to re-hyphenate India with Pakistan, something successive Indian governments had worked to avoid over the past two decades. He likened the situation to an "IMF-style bailout" where international pressure seems to influence bilateral matters.
Support for Armed Forces and National Unity
Emphasising bipartisan support, Pilot said the government had received overwhelming backing from across the political spectrum in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.“We are all proud of the actions of our armed forces. Their bravery and professionalism are unmatched,” he said. “But in the same breath, the government must ensure that foreign powers are not allowed to dictate or intervene in our internal and bilateral affairs.”
Pilot concluded by recalling the decisive leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war despite external pressures, stressing that national interest must remain supreme today as well.